Night Security

This is Not Goodbye

"Oh, no. No. No," I pace back and forth around the museum lobby. I watch as many men with white gloves handle the exhibits. "Not good. Not good at all," I go to dial Larry's phone number, but he doesn't pick up.

"You've reach Larry.." his voicemail starts.

I begin to mock it. "I'm too busy making an ass of myself to pick up the phone. Leave your message to never be heard or responded too," I curl up my lip and make a dirty face, hanging up. I notice my boss walking by. "Doctor! Doctor McPhee!" I rush over.

"Miss. Tifft. What are you doing here so early?" he asks.

"Never mind that. What are you doing? You can't send them away," I point to the various boxes.

"And why is that?" he asks.

"Because they belong here. Out in the open. Not in a stuffy box," I laugh.

"Kamilah, they aren't alive. They won't know the box is stuffy," he shakes his head.

I sigh in frustration and pull out my phone again. "God, damnit Larry. Pick up," I say into the phone as it rings.

"Uhm, excuse me. Unauthorized personnel," McPhee says. "If it isn't our very own, Mr. Success Story. Come for one of your nostalgia tours? I haven't seen you for a few months," I keep calling over and over, getting voicemail. I then hear a voice speak up from behind me. A voice that makes me very angry.

"Yeah, I've been busy," Larry says. "What-What's going on here?" he asks, looking around.

"Progress... so they tell me," McPhee replies. I shoot a very angry look at Larry from behind my boss and Larry looks at me confused. "Behold. Natural History, Version 2.0," McPhee turns on one of the devices and Teddy Roosevelt pops up in holograph form. I stand next to Larry. I hit him on the back of the head and wave my phone in his face.

"What's the point of having a mobile if you don't use it!" I angrily whisper. Larry shrugs at me and I scoff and walk away. I squat down to one of the boxes. "I'll save you guys. Don't worry," I place my hand on the lid and sigh.

"It's over," McPhee says, walking out. Furiously, I walk up to Larry.

"See what happens when you don't answer my calls? I wasn't asking you out to coffee!" I cross my arms after shoving my phone in my back pocket.

"How is everybody?" he asks me. I mumble his question in a mocking tone and with dirty look on my face.

"Dexter misses you. Attila doesn't want to rip anymore. Wea and Teddy are doing fine, but everyone misses you. Bad," I raise my eyebrows. He looks at the floor. "I gotta get ready for my shift. Don't be a Cecil," I say, warning him not to steal. He nods and I walk off. I come back in my uniform. I do a quick sweep, knowing no one would be in the museum now. I push the heavy stone off Ahk's sarcophagus before making my way back to the lobby. As I walk in, the tops of the creates fly off.

"Lawrence, good to see you, lad," Teddy says, shaking Larry's hand.

"Yeah, you too, Teddy," he smiles.

"The Gaudian of Brooklyn has returned," Ahk says, walking into the room.

"Hey, Ahk. Hey, look, McPhee told me what's going on around here. I had no idea," Larry says.

"Indeed. A lot has transpired, Lawrence, since your last visit. One would say-" Teddy get's cut of my Larry's phone vibrating. Larry answers it and Teddy looks upset. "Oh... Cricket," He says. I reach down and pull off my shoe. I rear my arm back to throw it, but someone grabs my wrist, stopping me. I turn back to see Ahkmenrah giving me a sad glance.

"Hey! Bocephus! A little help over here!" Jed calls out. Larry walks over, disappearing from my sight.

"He disappears from everyone's life for months. Come back and acts like he doesn't care. I'll show him. Boy, I outta," I mumble to myself as I shove my shoe back on, frustrated.

"They're shipping us out!" Jed say as I walk up behind the box. I look at Larry across from me. "I mean, at least Kam here tried to help," Jed points back at me.

"Thanks, Jed," I mutter.

"Larry, I know you're trying to make us feel better. I can see that you are genuinely, slightly bothered. But, it's never going to be the same, without out all of us, in this place," Octavius says.

"It ain't ever gonna be home, boy," Jed adds. I sigh sadly.

"Jedidiah, please. These are emotional times for all of us. It is our last night as a family and I don't want to see it squandered in self-pity. So, who will join me for one final stroll though these hallowed halls?" Teddy asks. Some follow Teddy while others stay behind. Once the lobby is mostly empty, I decide to walk up to Larry.

"Can't you see that I was right? They- no. We needed you and you disappeared. Money isn't everything, Larry. Not when your family needs you," I say before turning away.

"What is wrong with her?" I hear Larry ask.

"Other than loosing everyone?-" Jed starts, but Ahkmenrah cuts him off.

"Jedidiah..." he sighs. "With you gone, she had to pick up every night shift. She didn't trust any new comers. She had to quit school," he explains.

"I didn't-" Larry starts.

"You didn't know because, despite having your face buried into it, you never pick up your damn phone," I softly say. "Four months..." I shake my head and walk up the stairs. I hear someone following me. Once I round the corner to the empty hallway, I speak up. "Look, Larry. I don't want to hear your pathetic attempt of an apology. Just go," I say, not stopping. A hand grabs my wrist and I instantly know who it is. "I'm sorry, Ahkmenrah," I shake my head.

"No. I'm sorry," he replies, turning me to look at him.

"For what?" I ask, looking up at him, confused.

"For waiting till it was too late," he simply says. I narrow my brows and start to speak, but I'm cut off before a single word comes out. I feel a warmth through my body as soft warm lips press against my own. My breath escapes me and I wrap my arms around his neck. A familiar sensation rushes through my body as his hands land on my hips. I can feel tears running down my cheeks. We finally pull apart and I feel choked up. I keep my eyes closed. I feel his eyes on me, but I don't care. I bite my bottom lip to keep from crying. He picks up on this and wraps his arms tightly around me. I follow suit. A quiet sob escapes my previously occupied lips as I press my cheek against his chest.

"Why does this have to happen?" I squint my eyes. "Everyone is leaving. I don't understand. Who cares about technology? Or the 'new'? Why can't we all stay together, where we belong. Why can't everyone just be a family? I don't understand. I-... I-" My sobbing get's cut off.

"Hey. Hey. It's okay. This is not goodbye," he whispers to me. I feel overwhelming sadness, causing heavier sobs. "Look at me," he says, grabbing my face softly. "It's okay," I can tell he's worried. His thumb lightly touches my bottom lip. "It's okay," he repeats. I close my eyes. He rubs the tears away from my cheeks. "This is not goodbye," he says again.