Chains of the Cosmos

The Resignation

Nora had grown accustomed to spending less time in the dreary confines of her basement pod over the past month, enjoying the relative freedom of being upstairs with Hap, albeit still under his vigilant supervision.

Their relationship, if it could be called that, had settled into a routine that Nora found both comforting and confining. They were sharing a quiet dinner when Hap broke the news that disrupted the fragile balance she had been managing.

"I need to go to New York for a few days," Hap said, his tone casual as he passed her the salt. "You'll have to stay in your pod while I'm gone."

Her fork paused mid-air, her eyes narrowing slightly. "New York?" she echoed, a mix of longing and dread in her voice. "Please, could I come with you? I would be good, I swear it."

Hap shook his head, the decision clearly already made. "I can't risk it, Nora."

She set her fork down, her appetite gone. "Please, if it were anywhere but New York. My home," she pleaded, her voice thick with emotion. "What do you have to do there? I could help."

Hap sighed, meeting her gaze across the table. "I'm sorry, Nora. I cannot risk it. I've got a conference to speak at." His voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Nora felt a surge of frustration. "You take me out, let me breathe a little, and just when I start to feel like maybe there's a chance for something like normalcy, you pull it back," she said, her voice rising slightly.

Hap's expression softened momentarily, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. "I know it's hard. But it's necessary. You know the stakes here." She looked away, refusing to meet his gaze as she let his words sink in, pushing food around on her plate.

Hap leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he considered her words. "It's not that I don't want you to come," he began slowly, "but it will be too hard to keep an eye on you. There will be too many people there. Colleagues, friends of mine. How will I explain you?"

Nora's response was quick, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm your girlfriend, of course. Someone you met through work and found endlessly fascinating." Her expression hardened as she added, "I'll act completely normal. I won't try to tell anyone about what goes on here. You have my word."

Hap looked at her, a mixture of suspicion and intrigue in his gaze. "Nora, even if I believed that you could handle it—which I'm not saying I do—it's not just about you behaving. It's about controlling the environment. New York is unpredictable, full of variables I can't control."

Nora crossed her arms, her frustration evident. "And what about what I can control? You've seen me manage. Give me this chance, Hap. Let me prove that I can do this."

Hap remained silent for a long moment, his eyes locked on hers, gauging her sincerity and perhaps calculating the risk. Finally, he exhaled deeply. "I'll think about it," he conceded. "But I make no promises. And if I decide against it, that's final. You'll need to respect that decision."

Nora's expression softened, understanding the gravity of the situation but still holding onto her request. "I will respect it, Hap. But see it from my position—it's New York."

Hap nodded slowly, his gaze firm and calculating. "If I agree to this, you will need to conduct yourself in a very specific way while we're there. You'll need to stay close to me at all times when we're in public, be very careful about what you say and to whom you speak."

He leaned forward, emphasizing each word. "There are precautions we must take. If you were to try to reach out to someone, make contact, or seek help for you and the others, I would have no choice but to make decisions that are... very difficult. Decisions that I do not want to make."