“That’s not true!”
“Then what happened, Jess?”
“He attacked me!”
“Then why is he the one that got hypothermia?” Nancy asked.
I’d healed the man’s injuries, but he’d still gone too long in the cold before he’d been found. Now Jessica was taking the blame for Taylor’s condition.
“I can’t believe this! Where am I going to go?”
“I don’t know, but you need to leave. Violence is like… super not chill.”
“You guys have to at least let me back in so I can make sure I have everything.”
“No way, Jess. No.”
“Don’t make a scene,” Tina pleaded, “It’ll only make you look worse.”
“UGH!” Jess yelled, grabbing her packs and then storming off towards the main road. The two women returned inside and once they were gone, Jess changed course and walked towards the woods. Most of the trailers were up against the forest. She broke through the line of trees, coming close to where I’d been observing her. She set her bags down and shivering, she called out, “KRONOS! I KNOW YOU’RE HERE.”
I stepped out from behind a tree and approached her. By the time I reached her, she sat on her bags, clutching her knees to her chest.
“Jess. I’m here.”
“I got kicked out of my trailer.”
“I heard.”
“You’ve been watching for days. Couldn’t you tell what they were planning?”
“To be honest, my thoughts have been occupied.”
“Kronos, what am I supposed to do?”
“Come to my ship. Stay there.”
“I can’t just run away from my life and stay on an alien ship.”
“Not forever,” I said, although I did want her forever, “For now.”
“Fine.”
I rushed to her and pressed my hand to the top of her head. She was so small and vulnerable, and with tears in her eyes, I wanted to do everything in my power to help her. Touching her, I teleported both of us and we were back, with her bags, on my ship.
“You have so much here. I didn’t realize it the last time I came but now that I’m…”
“Now what?”
“I’m homeless!” She wailed, “I’m homeless and I bet these druggie assholes took my money.”
“Ah, yes. Your people still use currency.”
“Yes. I have to give money to my mom…”
“Why must you give money to your parent?”
“She’s trying to leave my dad and… whatever, this is a huge human mess and I’m sure you don’t want to hear any of it.”
