A Crumbling Society

Part 1-13

The double doors opened to a white hallway and bright overhead lights helping me read the signs that were hung above. There was a sign that had Nurse's Station listed on it and that's where it took me, turning the corner, Liza sat in a chair with a bandage on her head. She looked up and smiled when she saw me standing in front of her. For a second there was an attempt to stand, and I told her not to, kneeling down for her to see me and I asked what happened. Liza began explaining how there was a boot that kicked her by accident after she fell. This was a bit after we got separated but the person felt really bad and got her to a place away from the fighting. They tried to bandage it then, but it kept bleeding and the girl suggested she may need stitches. She also helped her get around the checkpoint without dealing with the villains and then she walked herself the rest of the way. I told her I was glad she was safe and thanked her for the star in the sky to let me know she was okay. Out of curiosity I also asked if the girl that helped her was here as well. There was a little nod and she smiled saying "you're welcome" back at me. She expressed the girl couldn't come since her friends were still out there in the riots, she didn't want to leave them. "Did you find Josie then, I asked, "Is she here?"

"Yeah, she's the one who wrapped me up and put medicine on my gash"

"Where'd she go then?"

"she said there were a few more people to check on and then she'd be back. Josie also said something about you hopefully being here when she returned"

"Oh, I guess she expected we be here together or something, that's odd"

"I'm not sure it's that big of a deal, I think she meant it since I was here that you might come along. We do hang out a lot, or we did"

"That's true, sorry, I've just felt weird ever since I was targeted in India. Anything uncommon sets me off. You know I'm already pretty skeptical about a lot of things"

"It's okay, I understand. She's been off for about twenty minutes so far so I don't really know how much longer it'll take; you could sit next to me"

"I'll sit down and wait, I could use a rest myself", I finished and took my seat next to Liza. She carefully turned to look at me while we kept talking. She asked me how I got over here since the checkpoints were crowded. Telling her how everything panned out, there was a statement of awe as she didn't know Atomica and VPRZR were anywhere near here. The part about Mega got Liza to start conversation, about how she always admired her and thought she was a great hero. At this time, one of the nurses came back to the station and asked if the guy that had been answering phones the whole time had heard the news. He shook his head no and she began telling him that Mega had been killed by the sentries. Liza's eyes began to water but she held the tears back from falling out onto her face. Little pools sat at the base of her eyes reflecting the light back at me before turning away. I pulled her in for a hug and told her it was going to be okay, even if I'm highly unsure if that will be true. All this going on and us not being able to just put on our outfits and be the symbols we swore to be, its absorbing every bit of energy there is to stay calm; or even sane. A few more sobs came from the muffled cackling of a cry under my arm, and she pulled back up from the embrace. Liza finished drawing her finger underneath her eyes to make sure there were no more tears. Exhaling from a deep breath, she then asked where Josie might be. We got an immediate response of, "right here!" and turned our heads to look. Josie had been standing above us without saying a single world, I asked her how long she had been there. "Long enough", was her response, she also let us know that the news had gotten to her and that it was a shame to hear. Purple scrubs and white tennis shoes made up her look which made her look very doctorly. I couldn't remember the last time I saw her in normal clothes, so I took in the look and said "wow". Josie shook her head and laughed a little while rolling her eyes. "Stop" she said while coming in for a hug, then asking if I had been alright. I told her it was the same old me as I've known her for a long time too. Turning to Liza and hugging her she also asked the same question and got caught in a bit of discussion. They talked about jobs and Liza's ex boyfriends and Josie's husband, this led to hearing about her kids that were now older. My eyes began to wander as I was uninterested for the sake of the world being in danger. I got a nod of acknowledgment and Josie told us to follow her.