© Lois Terrans Bradbury 29/10/2008

Chad stood rubbing his hands together, waiting for the slight tingling sensation that ran through his body to subside. He did not feel any different but he soon would. Eric patted his friend on the shoulder. “I am so sorry Chad how are you?”

Chad smiled unconvincingly at his friend about to answer when  his legs buckled and he collapsed into Eric’s arms, both men sliding to the floor. Chad looked up into Eric’s face. “I think maybe I did too much.”

Eric looked over the site before him, seeing paramedics, firefighters, police, security, and emergency personnel all over the auditorium. His eyes also fell on the injured but thanks to Chad, no one died. Eric sighed know it was not strictly correct. People, their fans had died. Chad had a gift, and that gift was life but it came at a price and today his friend and bandmate for the past five years paid that price.

Not long after joining the band, Chad confided in the other members concerning his affliction. Initially, the others joked and scoffed at him. After a short, compelling demonstration, they understood why he always wore gloves and long-sleeved shirts. Why he always covered up and at first, his fellow band members thought he had a wonderful gift. With just a touch, he healed the sick and brought the recently departed back to life. However; this gift came with a cruel string. Every time Chad used his gift, he died a little. Each time his flesh touched another person he lost some of his own life essence. He would never feel the touch of woman as they ran their fingers through his hair. Not able experience the feather-light touch of a kiss in his lips. Chad could not make love to anyone, and he would never hold hands flesh to flesh with anyone, forever needing a barrier between him and the rest of the world. In deed a cruel side effect, being surrounded by people yet he was alone.

Chad had not always had this so-called gift; it arrived in puberty the same time his voice broke. At first he had no idea what was happening but soon he realised he would need to protect himself.

Now lying in the arms of one whom he considered a dear friend. One who had gone out of his way to protect him as had Dylan and Steven, who treated him as an equal not a freak, Chad felt extremely tired.

In the early years, his friends had concocted a story that he had OCD. It went a long way to explaining why he always wore gloves and why he never touched or kissed anyone.

That evening’s concert like so many others as the band once again delivered an amazing nights entertainment. No sooner had they completed the encore when they heard an explosion and all four men ran back on stage to see the carnage set before them.

Many trapped, many had died.

Looking out across the devastation Chad’s eyes fell on a young girl; he recognised her from the first row, she was dead. Without a thought to himself, Chad jumped down off the stage, removed his gloves, and worked his magic. The three other members of the band stunned realising Chad intended to help as many people as he could. All three tried to argue with him but there was no point.

“How can you stand there and do nothing when they are here because of us?”

That was how, for the next few hours the members of the band found themselves helping the paramedics and emergency crews anyway they could. While Chad quietly walked among the injured, touching those that needed his special kind of help. Those he had brought back to life thinking they had simply passed out, never understanding, never realising the sacrifice he had made for them.

Tears slowly etched their way down Eric’s cheeks; his grief barely contained seeing the life draining from his friend. “This is not right… You have to live.”

Without thinking, Chad grabbed hold of Eric’s hand. “Thank you for being my friend.”

Eric shuddered as a small surge of electricity ran through him just as Chad’s body went limp in his arms. He wailed in utter agony. His tortured screams brought Dylan and Steven to his side; they both understood what had happened, distraught they sank to their knees next to Eric and Chad.

Their friend was gone.

Apart from the three men, no one else would ever realise or understand the real reason why many people had survived that day, and all because of Chad’s selfless sacrifice. The papers would report the single fatality as a miracle.

The remaining band members would not see it as a miracle. Their friend had sacrificed himself for his fans; he had given the ultimate, his life.