Reconciled in the End

Chapter 8: Release

Finally the day came as the staff set her in a lounge to wait for her sponsor. She looked to see a tall man confidently stride toward her in the uniform of an Officer Task Master. His features looked sharp and piercing. Hair with shaved sides to his hairline except the top, which grew long enough to slick back behind his head sleekly or perhaps placed in a short, snug jet black ponytail if he liked. His bright, intense green eyes gave such contrast as they were set only on her form ahead. She hardly recognized the being before her, but deep down, a relief of the familiar rushed at her.

It had been Thomas. There was comfort in that, although she observed this version of himself quite a bit more reserved and commanding. She would respect him dutifully, she understood herself quite inferior now.

Clutching her thin wrist, she was nothing dazzling, tired, worn, sickly. Her mind had gone, she couldn’t support herself, nor would she be allowed much either with the restrictions. She racked her mind in nervousness, trying to ponder what he would expect of her now. She would conduct herself as passive and submissive, not that she had ever been a rowdy character ever before. She hardly could keep eye contact every time those confident green eyes drifted toward her.

Soon the staff walked them out the door, Siren had soared away from the place to freedom. The two strode beside each other in silence, still aware of the presence of the asylum behind them. Drifting around at the scene of people here and there, walking on interconnected walkways between buildings, the ever-expanding city yet again increased exponentially. Thomas seemed aloof to the chaos of tight crowds.

“I see a lot has changed. There used to be a mote café there,” Siren spoke softly. She felt incredibly nervous and awkward as he merely nodded.

After a moment, he responded back, “I guess I hadn’t realized the change myself. Siren, are you feeling alright?”

He peered over at her as she bit her lip. Guiding her on the train toward their home, he grasped her hand as they sat on an empty bench. The contact was comforting, but she felt undeserved receiving such.

Thomas felt her hand tremble, then placed his arm over her as he whispered carefully, “If you’re sick, let’s take care of this privately. I feel if we go back to the asylum for a check-up or to the medical hospital, they’ll revoke the discharge permanently. I don’t want that.”

She looked up to his worried face. Was he just as nervous about all this? That actually felt better for some reason. Was Thomas still the Thomas she knew on the inside?

“Thomas?” she responded in a murmur, thinking absently to herself.

He nodded laughing, yet mournful in some way. “I am Thomas. Yes, I don’t think I’ve changed Siren. Maybe a little more grown up and well educated I hopefully suppose, but still the Thomas you’ve known a long, long, long, long time. Did my formality disturb you?”

He leaned near her ear carefully as he whispered more, “I apologize for it, I needed the medical staff to have confidence in the discharge, more than what I really felt. I was nervous that there was something I missed. When we get home, we’ll relax and adjust slowly, free of their eyes. If you need anything, I beg you to let me help.”

Siren nodded while looking up into his face. She tried to keep emotionless for the gathering crowd entering the train, but her voice felt tight. Wiping a fallen tear secretly from her eyes, he hugged her tighter as he vowed, “I swear I’m same as ever, really. That’s what’s biting at you, isn’t it? Don’t worry, you’ll see me do something stupid soon, I’m sure. That hasn’t changed, I’m not a very cool guy.”

She could feel the vibration of his deep laugh through her body. His touch and warmth soothed her. Had they not been in public she’d said so much more. She had many questions for him. What had he done all this time? How was he now? What did he expect from her? Why did he bother to release her?