Episode 82

“You doing okay?” Gail whispered, looking to Miah.

She nodded. She didn’t look okay.

Gail sighed and patted her hand.  “We’ll understand everything very soon, don’t worry.”  She said to convince herself, as well. “Don’t worry.”

Miah bit her lip, looking down.  Gail wanted so desperately to help her; it pained her to see her friend this way.  If only there was something she could say…but she could think of nothing.  So she stayed by her, her hand on hers, trying to give her comfort.

After a minute, she felt Miah sigh and take her hand, looking over at her with a smile.  “Thanks, Gail.”  Her voice sounded hollow and worn, but she gave her hand a squeeze.

They rode on like that, Connor on her left and Miah on her right, with Ben in the front seat.  Gail wondered if he had changed… She hadn’t been in on the whole process, but she knew that it would have been very hard to reverse what they’d done to his body, his mind; she was almost surprised he was alive. They would see about how his mind had survived, though…some things could not be undone.

She looked out the window for a time, but it was still dark.

What must be going through Miah’s mind? How could she endure to see this happen to him? To have him torment her? She shivered, and looked over at Miah. She had fallen asleep, and her head rested against the window. They went over a bump, but she didn’t stir. /She must be simply exhausted…and I’m not too rested, either. This will be a long ride./ She shifted her feet and yawned.

“Tired?” Connor scratched his head, leaning his elbow on the door.

“Totally... This will take more than just a good night’s sleep to get back to normal.  I feel like I could sleep for a year and still need to yawn.”

Connor smiled.  “Yes, I feel exactly the same.  I think we should take a break from adventures after this one’s over, don’t you think?”

“Definitely…I think—” she yawned— “I think we should take a good long break.”

He nodded with a knowing smile.  “A good long break.”

Gail closed her eyes, feeling the hum of the engine around her, the seat against her back, and the weight of all she had done that day weighing on her shoulders.  “Yes…”

She drifted off to a deep, dreamless sleep.