Republic of Omisha

Chapter 8: Eliza

   The next day Valerie returns at the six o'clock at night. She holds a plate in her hand. Eliza cranes her neck to see what's on it. Valerie must see her curiosity and she replies by saying, "it's chocolate cake. I hope you like it. It was our dessert tonight and I had a hard time hiding it from the other students, who would have snitched on me for keeping it instead of eating it."

Eliza is blown away by her generosity. She is speechless. She can feel her meds starting to wear off. They never gave her a second dose. Eliza is afraid of what might happen if she loses control. You can't think like that, she tells herself. Think positively and I'll be okay.

Eliza had her eyes closed while she was thinking to herself and she doesn't open her eyes until Valerie breaks the silence. "Are you okay? If I'm making things harder n you I'm sorry... I can leave."

"No," Eliza blurts out. She didn't even realize that she had grabbed Valerie with her right hand. She pulls it away wincing in pain because that was the wrist that she broke. "I-I want you to stay. I... need someone to talk to." Eliza says in a vulnerable tone. She hates it, feeling vulnerable, admitting that she needs a friend.

"Okay," Valerie replies, a little shaken. She hands her the cake.

Eliza smiles and politely takes it and slides back to rest against the wall. Valerie sits next to her. Eliza visually sees Valerie relax. She picks the fork from the plate and takes a big bit of the rich chocolate cake.

She can see Valerie examining her in her peripheral vision. "If your feeling better today, I can give you a tour of the campus and introduce you to the other students." Valerie offers.

"By 'better' you mean mentally stable." Eliza snapped back and as soon as the words left her mouth she regretted saying them.

Valerie hesitated. "Yes,"Valerie plainly replied.

Eliza faces her. She was confused at her honesty. Valerie read her expression and explained. "I don't see the point to lying to you. Besides you already knew the answer. I want you to feel like you can trust me... because you can. I will never lie to you Eliza Spero."

"I wish I could."Eliza mutters more to herself than to cut down Valerie. Eliza stares into Valerie's gaze until she breaks it off and looks straight ahead to the door. Eliza does the same.

She hears Valerie take a deep breath. "I want to be your friend, but your not making it easy." Valerie bluntly says as a wake up call for Eliza.

"I'm sorry, I' just-"

"Angry," Valerie finishes and Eliza nods. Valerie rises to her feet. "It's Thursday, you've been here for two days since the second trials. Come on it's time for a tour." Eliza rose. She forgot about the chocolate cake that she had rested on her lap. When she stood up the plate flipped over, spilling on the floor and smudging frosting on her pant legs. "But first," continued Valerie, "let's get you a fresh change of clothes."

Eliza thought that today being Thursday doesn't sound right. The second trials were two days ago? The first one was on Saturday. Days had past between the trials. Days that she has no memory of. What did she do on those two missing days?