Contemplative Sensitivity

Cadence and Hera

It was Friday evening and Erwin was grading his student's papers, but he was distracted. Levi ha consumed his mind.  

It had been a month since they laid Isabel and Mrs. Church to rest. Farlan had been discharged from the mental hospital, and while he hadn't self harmed, he was still quite an emotional wreck. Levi volunteered to keep an eye on Farlan; he moved into Farlan's house, kept him company and made sure he didn't hurt himself. However, Levi's doting meant that he was largely missing from Erwin's life. Erwin hadn't seen his brother since they had gone bowling three weeks ago. 

Sied iher das Essen? Nein, wir sind der Jäger!

Erwin groaned, annoyed his cellphone was ringing. When he first heard the song, he was smitten, but now he associates the song with stress and distraction. After all, he was almost finished grading! He pops his flip phone open, having not bothered to check his caller I.D.

"I'm not interested in what you're selling!" Erwin shouted into his phone. 

"Wow, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Mike said. "How are you?"

"Oh sorry, I didn't check for your name," Erwin apologizes. "I'll be fine once I'm finished grading. Is it possible I could call you back? I'm not in the mood to be distracted." 

"Well..."

"What?"

"You may have to pack up those papers and come outside," Mike said timidly.

"What?" Erwin stood up and glanced out of his window. Sure enough, Mike was standing outside, leaning against his car. He could see two people sitting in the backseat. "What the hell, man? I don't remember talking about taking a trip with you!"

"This was a kinda last minute thing," Mike said apologetically. "It's about Cecily." 

"Oh! This was her idea?" Erwin rolled his eyes. "Makes sense." 

"Listen, just come on down with a pair of clean underwear. I promise to have you home by Sunday," Mike said, flustered. 

"Fine. Give me five minutes."

When Erwin stepped outside (with a fresh pair of tidy whiteys in his pants pocket), he saw that the two people sitting in the backseat were Cecily and Nile. He found himself grateful that he didn't have to sit in the back with them. If this was going to be an overnight ride, Erwin didn't want Cecily drooling on his shoulder or hear Nile mumbling in his sleep. 

"Glad you could join us." Nile said as soon as Erwin got in the car. "I thought you'd be too engrossed in your work to give us the time of the day."

He gave his friend a quick smile. Cecily was being oddly quiet. In the midst of this tragedy, had she decided it was best to become mute as well? Erwin was used to Levi's brooding, solemn silence, but not hers. Before he could ask anything, Mike started the car and the ride began. Other than the radio playing soft classical music, everyone was quiet. 

After they'd been driving for twenty minutes or so, Erwin breaks the silence.

"Guys, this is turning out to be a sorry excuse for a road trip. If I wanted peace and quiet I would have stayed home." Erwin said to lighten the mood. "Why is everyone so grim?" 

"Cecily." Mike said. He never takes his eyes off the road.  "You've got to tell him."  

"We're driving to Hoover City." Cecily whispered apprehensively. 

"What? That's a four hour drive! Why are we headed there?" 

"Allow me," Nile said excitedly. "Cecily is too nervous to talk. So, you all know about my parents connections right?"