Finally

Part 4: You, Me, And The Stars

There it is again.

That very short.

Very brief moment of sadness.

I've been puzzled lately.

Trying to crack the code that is Helen Sharpe.

It was nice hearing her laugh truly the other day.

And her jokes.

Fuck- is she funny.

That's a side I never knew- I guess.

I knew she was sarcastic.

And witty.

But not down right humorous- a comedian.

But now, standing in the elevator as it rises to her floor, I see that brief side of self loathing.

A side many people have, but suppress it around others.

She has never shown me that before.

That self hatred.

The doubt.

The loneliness.

"Well...I guess I'm gonna have to change that." I casually say so not to make it any more awkward. She looks up at me and her sad weak smile, rises ever so slightly before getting out onto her floor.

Walking to her office, her nurses and patients watch her as she goes. I can see the embarrassment on her face- though she thinks she's hiding it by looking like she's on a mission.

Stern.

Structured.

Business only.

Fierce.

All these describe the Helen most people see and 'know'.

Hell, that's exactly what I would tell someone I don't know- if they asked me about what she's like.

Granted- I'd add in Cool, smart, and selfless: but that's just me.

"Dr. Sharpe, Mr. Dotson has been recaptured." Elenor says and I shake my head.

"He's not a wild wildebeest, he's a grown man. Just say you found him and please for the love of the almighty- keep him in his room." She says and unlocks her office door. Going in behind her, I shut the door and watch as she opens up her file room and pulls open a drawer. Reach in, she grabs a pair of flats and removes her socks before stepping into them. Coming out, she looks around her office real quick before turning and nearly running right into me. "Blimey! Max! Space?"

"Stars?"

"What?"

"Nova?"

"Max."

"Helen?"

"What are you doing?" She asks so confused by me.

"I thought we were naming words by association."

"You are too much. Let's go." She smiles widely and pushes me towards the door, when I stop abruptly- her running right into my back- and I turn to her. "Bloody hell, now what?"

"Chicken."

"What?"

"Chicken...I think you get grilled chicken on your pizza." She looks at me with a straight face and says nothing. "Spinach too...and tomatoes...and white sauce."

Her neutral lips slowly rise at the corners and I love her slow transition into smiling at me.

"Not even close?" I ask and she smiles wider and nods.