Broken

Chapter 5

My hands ball into fists. "What the hell do you want from me?" I spit. My words barely make it out through my gritted teeth. "Have you come to prod at my brain some more?" He looks depressed. The black rings under his eyes indicate lack of sleep for at least 48 hours. And he looks a little startled too. His back straightens. "No," He said calmly. "You've been screaming for the past half hour. You called?"

I give him the dirtiest look I can muster. "You want to help me? Okay, great. Here's a thought: get me out of this chair so I can strangle you." He raises an eyebrow. "Don't think I can do that... but you do have a pocketknife in your left finger." Why didn't I think of that? How did he know? "How did you--" "A lot happened when you were asleep." He leans closer to me. I instinctively pull back, but, realizing he had no gun, I lean in. "Now, I'm not really supposed to do this, but is there anything you need? Like, food or something from the wreckage?" That's pretty nice of him. Wait... what am I doing?

Siding with the enemy, leaning closer to see if I can hear his sacrifice. If he really wanted to help me, he could just boot me out and I would be home free. What is he even doing here? Has he just come to mock me? Hateful, dark thoughts swirl in my head, until I can't take it. "You think you can actually help me?!" I explode, my mouth like a cannon as my words turn into cannonballs, erupting in his face.

"You will never, ever be able to help me as long as I'm in this dump and you're my superior. I have nothing. Literally nothing! The fragments of my life are in the shuttle wreckage if you want to see them, you sick man. You wanna do me a favor? Just get out of here. Can't you just LEAVE ME ALONE?" His eyes widen. I think I see tears. I think I do. "Okay," He says quietly, and turns to go.

Something inside of me grows, like something's eating me from the inside. I have had this feeling many times. Guilt. His foot is out the doorway when I say, "Wait." My voice is barely above a whisper, but he stops. "Want to insult me some more?" He asks, pain in his eyes. He's not like the others; he's....softer. More vulnerable.

My expression softens and I look down. "A ring," I say quietly. "Sorry, what?" I look at him, tears gathering in my eyes. "A ring." My voice is louder, but still broken. "Okay, a ring. What color is it?" "Blue," I say, as a single tear falls down my face. It's made of the finest sapphires, from the crystal waterfalls on Quartzite. I've only been there one time; the best, and probably the last good day I'll ever have.

"Blue. Got it. Anything else?" He looks ready to take out a notepad as I shake my head and look down. "Okay. Well, um.. bye." He says awkwardly, and steps toward the panel. As soon as the door slides shut, I break into a sob.

Sorry you guys! Only one chapter tonight because this one's really long. Tell me what you think!!