Page 3 of Elanie & the Empath
I commed, defending him even though I didn’t entirely disagree. He was a gen-23 bionic,after all, an iteration not known for their processing power. But I didn’t care that he spoke in short sentences and had never read a book in his entire life. He was nice to look at, and he liked me. That was all I was supposed to need, right?
Sunny’s expression was dubious.
I insisted.
Compassion warped Sunny’s features, and when her hand reached across the table for mine, I gasped, nearly knocking my chair over backward to get away from it.
Chan scolded over a shared comm.
Sunny replied, pulling her hand back while I breathed a sigh of relief.
Ten minutes later, Chan dismissed us. I stood, didnotlook at Sunny, and bolted from the staff room and everyone inside. I didn’t get far.
“Elanie!” Sunny shouted. “Wait!”
I turned around to find her running after me down the hall—or trying her best to in a black pencil skirt and stiletto heels.
“Are you all right?” I asked once she reached me, frowning while she bent at her waist, placing her hands on her knees. Her face turned pale, almost green.
“Oh, I’m fine,” she said, waving me off.
“Really? Because you don’t look fine. You look like you’re about to be sick all over my shoes.”
She straightened, her normal color returning, and reached for my elbow. “Enough about me. It’syouI’m worried about.”
I bristled, pulling my elbow right back out of her grip. “Why?”
“Well, darling, you are going through so many changes right now. Your body. Your emotions. And I think you need someone to talk to about it.” Her jaw muscles ticked as she gritted out, “Someone who isn’t Blake.”
“Blake and I don’t really talk.”
“Precisely,” she said, her blue eyes wide. “And I know you don’t really want to talk to me about it either.”
“Sorry,” I muttered, suddenly feeling…something. Guilt? Remorse? Bad?
Wasbadan emotion?
“Have you ever considered visiting Dr. Semson for a checkup?” Sunny asked.
“Dr. Semson?” I repeated for clarity. Because the idea that I would visit the ship’s physician was ridiculous. “Bionics don’t see doctors, Sunny. There’s no need.” We didn’t get sick. We didn’t need checkups. And we definitely didn’t seePortisandoctors. Portisans were empaths, and empaths couldn’t read bionics. I wasn’t about to entrust my personal issues to someone who would never trust me back.
“Bionics most certainly do see doctors,” she insisted with a hand on her hip. “I’ve been researching, and it’s quite common and helpful for bionics to talk to a medical professional after installing a hormone upgrade.”
“You’ve been researching me?” The sting of tears threatened again. I blinked it back. “I’m not… There’s nothing wrong with me. All my systems are running optimally.”
Her voice eased into some tone that was supposed to be soothing. “What you’re going through right now has been, up until recently, a distinctly non-bionic experience. It’s something I’ve been through myself, and even though it was a lifetime ago, I might have a bit more experience in this area than you.”
An appointment reminder popped up over my centralvision. “Did you already make me an appointment? Stars above, Sunny.”
“Don’t be mad.” She tugged her top straight. “You can cancel it if you want to. But Sem is a very busy man, and I didn’t want you to miss?—”
“Sem?” I pulled up short. “His name is Sem Semson? His parents should be ashamed of themselves.”
“No.” She laughed. “It’s a nickname.” Her lips pulled to the side. “Although, now that you mention it, I’m not sure what his first name actually is.”
When aSustained Abnormal Settingswarning flashed behind my eyes, I allowed my sensory threshold to return to normal levels. While the weight of my body resettled over my bones and fresh pain twinged in my breasts, Sunny reached out to take my arm.
“Will you give him a try?” she asked. “Please? I really think he could help you.”
