Page 29 of Elanie & the Empath
“Elanie,” I said, shocked, wondering if I’d ever get used to her ability to surprise me at every turn. “Um, hi.”
“Dr. Semson.” Her shoulders were stiff, jaw tight, voice formal. “Are you busy?”
“Ooh, is that the bionic babe?” Mr. Lagerta asked from behind the curtain.
My eyes went wide while Elanie rolled hers.
“Give me five minutes, and then I’m all yours. I mean, I’ll be available.” I was stammering again. Couldn’t be helped. “For you. Five minutes.”
“Of course.” She backed away a step, her skin glowing the way it always did. Like sand reflecting the sunset.
Sliding the door shut, I turned around as Mr. Lagerta emerged through the gap in the curtain.
Bouncing on his gelatinous lower half, he said, “Back feels great, Doc. Wish I could take you home with me.”
“Good luck, Mr. Lagerta.” I held out my hand. “And safe travels back home.”
He gave my hand a shake. “Thanks, Doc. And call me Quyal.”
“Quyal?” It was a strange name, even for a Blurvan. “Is that short for something?”
“Quyaliguark, but only my mother calls me that.” He winked, slithering past. “See you next year.”
“I’ll be here.” Probably still spending all day in this office. Probably still alone.
“There she is,” Quyal crooned when I slid the door open again. “Don’t you just brighten this whole place up?”
“No,” Elanie answered, remaining, as always, unimpressed.
Quyal grinned at her, then at me, then sighed. “Oh, to be young.”
“He’s a strange Blurvan,” Elanie muttered while he slid down the hall, chuckling.
“You aren’t on my schedule today.” My attention shifted between her pink lips and her golden-brown eyes. “Is everything all right?”
“I just wanted to return this.” She held out my mirror, not answering my question. When I took it, she said, “And to tell you that I broke up with Blake.”
Fireworks exploded inside me, neon signs that readYes!andGood for you!blinking into existence above my head. Which, of course, I ignored so I could tell her “I’m sorry.”
Her shoulder inched toward her ear. “It wasn’t working out. I’m not ready for a boyfriend, and I think I have you to thank for helping me figure that out.”
“Me?”
“You made me realize that I need time to learn more about myself, about who I am now. Because whether I want to admit it or not, the upgrade has changed me.” Her chin ducked, those neon signs flickering when she said, so sadly, “I am not the same.” But it wasn’t until she raised her headand added firmly, “So I won’t need to see you again,” that they both buzzed, then popped, then died.
“You won’t?”
She shook her head.
“Why?”Why?Wasn’t this what I wanted? Wasn’t I just about to tell her I couldn’t see her anymore?
“I came to you because I had questions about sex,” she said with a calculated sharpness. “I’m no longer participating in sex-related activities. Therefore, I no longer need you.”
She might as well have hurled a bowling ball into my gut, but she was right. This was for the best. Probably for both of us. “I understand.” I gave her a tight-lipped smile while my heart sank. “I wish you nothing but the best.”
I was about to retreat into my office to lick my metaphorical wounds when she said, “Wait.”
“Yes?” My response was too eager, but that might always be the case with Elanie. Knowing myself, which I did, I was now destined to a life of seeing her in the hallways or at staff parties and waiting with my heart in my throat for the moment she might say hello to me.
