Page 51 of Sky Song
That was three years ago, and she hadn’t tried again to find a companion. She was physically and emotionally lonely, yet she passively continued to drift, letting life take her forward.
And like in an old movie, the treacherous river of life had taken her over the waterfall and slammed her against the rock that was Lyle, with his gentle alien eyes, big body, and a soft, pulsing energy that soothed yet held echoes of dark, bindingpleasure. Having known him, she could no longer imagine her life with anyone else. No matter where she was, her fingers felt the phantom beating of his hearts. Her hands knew what his skin felt like, covered by a slick downy fuzz, denser on his chest and like a young peach on his face. What would it be to stretch out next to him naked, to run her hands all over that sumptuous, generously rounded swell of his body?
Salty and Terrance continued on with their tepid insult swap. The lab equipment hummed its usual white noise.
The doors opened with a familiar hiss and, predictably, Yanet made an appearance. Contrary to the norm, Dr. Deja Nura followed Yanet.
“Hello, everybody.” Dr. Nura was tiny like a girl, with long dark hair always in a simple ponytail and large liquid eyes that, along with her soft voice, helped elevate her already exceptional bedside manner to unreachable heights.
All three of them perked up, snapping to attention.
“Is there news? About Kim?” Cricket was the first to ask what they all were thinking.
“I’m afraid not.” Dr. Nura’s shoulders slumped a little.
Yanet preened - for Terrance’s sake, but maybe not. Yanet didn’t require an audience to bask in her own attractiveness. She was acting so normal and Yanet-y, never once glancing at that door, not even casually. And the metal cabinet hiding a weapon and a panel with lights and buttons - like it didn’t exist.
Cricket stared fixedly ahead, fighting an overwhelming impulse to glance at the doorandthe cabinet.
“I know this situation is difficult for your shift,” Dr. Nura began as if speaking to a gravely ill patient. “But we must go on, don’t you think? At the hospital, it’s imperative we maintain concentration. So many lives depend on us.”
They all nodded at Dr. Nura’s pep talk. She was right, life must go on. The lab must keep churning out results. What was there to say?
“I came to ask how you’re doing.” Dr. Nura made eye contact with Cricket, then with Salty and Terrance. “To thank you for holding up the fort. Do you need anything?”
“Yeah, to hire Kim’s replacement ASAP,” Salty grumbled, bristly as a fish spine.
Dr. Nura wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. “The department has started the proceedings, but because Kim’s situation is so uncertain, I’m afraid it’ll be a while before we can replace her. I’m sorry, I know it isn’t what you hoped to hear. In the interim, Yanet can assist.”
“Yanet?” Terrance uttered in disbelief and laughed.
Yanet gave him a hairy eyeball. “What does that tone mean?”
“Nothing,” Terrance quickly backpedaled. “Just, you know.” He gestured at the counter. “Shit.”
Dr. Nura chuckled. “Yanet is aware. Aren’t you?”
“Of course I am.” She rolled her pretty eyes. “I’m a nurse, Terrance.”
“Now, Yanet can’t work here every day, but if things get too backlogged, let me know.”
The doctor made a few more soothing noises and left, followed by Yanet. Cricket watched the nurse with an eagle eye, but she never looked in the direction of the door. Not once.
But just before they left, Dr. Nura did.
“The situation with Kim is so uncertain,” Salty parroted Dr. Nura’s words in a nasal falsetto.
“What’s wrong with that statement?” Terrance pounced. “Itisuncertain. No one knows what happened and whether she’s still alive.”
“Oh, I think that old bird is alive.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do.”
Cricket, tired of being suspicious of everyone over that goddamn door, pivoted on her heels toward Salty, placing her hands on her hips. “Then where is she?”
Surly, Salty grabbed rubber gloves and started pulling them on. “How would I know? Working somewhere cushy and clean and better-paid.”
