Page 30 of Jase
My lids lowered, but I hit the button, bringing it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“If I sent a car to pick you up, would you get in?”
I stopped walking, looking around the busy street. “J?”
“Would you?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so. I’d ask how the session went, but I’d be pretending not to know. Do you feel better?”
Ease settled over me as I headed in the direction of my apartment. We were back to talking. Or I was. J didn’t answer much, but I knew he was always listening. Hearing him now calmed me. In my nervous state, I almost needed to hear his voice. Maybe he knew that. Maybe that’s why he only talked when I needed it most.
“I think I feel better. Yeah. I guess I do.”
“Good. But why not take the medication?”
“I don’t like pills.”
“Not even if they help you?”
I jogged through the crosswalk, beginning the next block. “Let’s talk about something else. Tell me about your day. What sort of things do you like to do? Have you saved anyone new lately?”
He laughed, making me smile. Why did he sound so familiar to me?
“No one new. My day was full of work stuff. Boring stuff for you, no doubt. I see you’ve been accepted into a few book clubs. How are you liking those?”
“They’re great. You were right. Social media has benefits.”
“I’m always right. I was right with the silk ties, too. You’re sleeping better.”
I slowed, glancing around again. “How did you know? Did you…can you see through my phone too? Did you watch me. Before…like an hour before…
“Hmm. I don’t like to lie.”
“So, tell me the truth.”
“You first. When you were calling out to me, was it really to see if I was there? Or was it something else?”
I did stop then. He wanted honesty, and I wasn’t sure I could give it. I wasn’t even sure if I knew.
“Ooh. That look. You’re trying to figure it out yourself.”
“You can see me?How?I don’t understand. Are you following me?”
“See the intersection? You see that camera mounted there?”
I squinted, cocking my head.
“Look across the street. Do you see that electronics store? The one with all the TV’s in the windows?”
“Yeah. They’re huge. It’s a football game playing.”
“Is it?”
The pictures flickered, and I was suddenly standing there looking at myself. I was on every TV in the windows.
