I get out.
They bring my stuff upstairs to my apartment, Amelie carrying my trunk, the driver carrying the lab equipment. He leaves without a word, and there is an awkward silence between her and me.
I fumble with my keys.
“Okay then,” I say and open the door.
“Jane,” she says.
“I’m fine, really,” I say in a detached voice as I roll in my trunk and throw my bag onto the floor.
At that moment, Black Matter appears at my legs, screaming at me.
“Hi to you too,” I say. “Didn’t like the cat sitter, huh?”
“You have a cat,” says Amelie with beaming eyes and sinks to her knees.
“Yeah, but she hates?—“
Amelie grasps Black Matter before I can end the sentence. She will let go of her immediately, because Black Matter is feral.
Only nothing happens.
“—hates being picked up,” I mumble to myself.
“Hi you,” she says, holding her up, nose to nose. “You are such a beautiful void. And such a cool name.”
She squeezes Black Matter on her chest and holds her close for a moment.
“I miss having cats,” she says. “I once had a black void, just like you.”
She loves cats.
She had cats.
I am once more watching her with a half-open mouth.
Her eyes meet mine.
“Sorry,” she says. “I just—I miss—whatever.”
“You are the first person to survive picking her up,” I say. “She hates to be touched.”
Amelie chuckles.
“She hates to be touched by you, because you hate touch,” she says, lets go of Black Matter, smiles, and turns to the stairs.
“See you tomorrow,” she says and is gone.
Leaving Black Matter and me staring after her.
18
AMELIE
PLAYLIST: LOVE CHAINS –BOYY, MALI, ST FRANCIS HOTEL
“Did anything happen with him?” I ask Alex the moment we’re back in the car.
