JD woke up with an intense headache and overwhelmingly dehydrated. He drank as much water with his ibuprofen as he could stomach and laid back down. He didn’t sleep again. Instead his mind kept replaying the events of the last night. When it tired of torturing him with those images it replayed his argument with his mother and then his conversation with Tasha. Over and over until thinking made him dizzy.

Today was Christmas Eve. JD got out of bed finally and went in search of his mother. He knew two things; one he had to apologize, and two, he had to open up to his family. He asked his family to meet him in the living room, and then he sat on the floor beside the Christmas tree. His mother came first and sat on the couch giving JD a look of disappointment. Tasha came in pulling her mother and father with her. Tanya and Shawn also sat on the couch, but TT climbed into JD’s lap. To JD’s surprise Deanne came in as well, and sat on the recliner. As usual when she forgets Marc, she seemed empty, almost lifeless.

“Mama,” JD started, “I am sorry for the way I spoke to you this morning. I was not in control of my emotions, and you didn’t deserve to be treated so poorly.”

His mother’s face softened but she didn’t respond other than to nod. Tanya gave her little brother a thumbs up.

“There is someone very important to me that’s missing right now. That’s what had me upset. But I’m going to start this conversation another way, and get back to that in a minute.” TT gave him a thumbs up this time, and an encouraging smile.

“I don’t know if you know, maybe you all have figured it out, but I am Vigilante. We moved here to hide what was happening to me; Tanya and Shawn, y’all have been amazing for mom and I. Having the ability to fly and super strength though, I really felt I could help others. I felt like I could be one of those superheroes like from the comics. “

“Moving here brought us to know Deanne and her son, Marc. I know right now, y’all can’t remember him. He has powers too. The one that came first, around the time we moved, was that everyone forgets him. He’s virtually invisible unless, well unless I am around and remind people.” JD looked at Deanne, “DD, have you seen Marc since last night?”

“No,” she said it quietly shaking her head.

JD’s mother still sour from this morning, “I don’t know any Marc. JD, you really shouldn’t be doing this.” Tanya and Shawn just kinda looked worried, like something was really going wrong.

“No, Gramma! You know Marc!” TT interrupted, “look, under the tree, you have presents for him. Every year for his birthday you and DD let me help make his cake. Please Gramma, you gotta remember him!” She pouted and begged.

“Let me see,” TT’s grandmother reached out to take a present that was for Marc when TT offered it to her. She carefully investigated the label on it.

JD took the opportunity to take the conversation back, “He’s been half of Vigilante this whole time. Because no one remembers him, because he’s invisible, he’s always been a part of it. A part of me. He’s my best friend, and last night…” JD trailed off for a moment trying to fight back the tears. He took a deep breath to continue, “Last night we went to a party. We both drank a little, and at one point I decided I would tell Marc about my feelings for him, and the dreams I’d been having.” Another deep breath, “Unfortunately being drunk, I didn’t talk to him. I just kissed him.” JD hung his head avoiding eye contact with anyone. “He freaked out and ran away. I haven’t seen him since. I searched the rest of the night. His phone is off and…. and It’s all my fault.”

Deanne got to the floor and knelt beside JD. She took his hand, “You’ll find him, JD. I know I don’t always remember him, but I also know you two are connected. That’s why you can make me remember him. Believe in yourself.” She pulled JD into a hug as she started to cry.

“I’m sorry, JD,” his mother started, “right now, I can picture him, but I couldn’t before. I’ve known you were Vigilante, but I didn’t want acknowledge it. I didn’t want to officially approve of it because it scares me. Do what you have to do to find Marc, but please, when he’s home, please put away Vigilante.” She was hugging Marc’s present now, like it was him.

Everything fell silent until Shawn spoke up, “Wait, how comes Tasha remembers him?” Everyone looked from Shawn to Tasha.

“Marc thinks only those with a power can remember him without me reminding them,” JD supplied.

Tanya gave her child “the look.” TT got up from JD’s lap and ran to her bedroom, yelling, “I’m not telling!” over and over until she shut her door.

JD shrugged and looked at his big sister, “I couldn’t get her to tell either.” He looked around the decorated living room, and even though it was full, JD saw it as empty.