[13] Firelight

Firelight

DATE

FEBRUARY 5, 2039

TIME

PM 11:58:21

Connor helped Haley through the entry of her little cottage. He closed the door behind him, then moved with her through the living room. He guided her down the hall, leading her by holding one hand and bracing one hand on the small of her back. He paused when they reached her bedroom door.

He looked down at her. “May I?”

Haley’s eyes were glassy, and she said nothing.

Connor took her through the bedroom and to the bathroom. He turned on the water in the shower and adjusted the temperature.

“Take a shower and I’ll make you something to eat.” He watched her.

She stood, staring at the floor, wavering on her feet.

He didn’t want to leave her alone, she looked as though she might crumble into pieces.

He lightly set his hands on her shoulders and looked into her empty eyes. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be right outside.”

She nodded slightly.

Connor hesitated a moment longer before leaving, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

Haley stood, motionless. Steam rose from the shower. She glanced sideways at her reflection in the mirror. She wore blue scrubs. They had kept her clothes at the hospital. She would have burned that bloody mess of cloth anyway.

She took off the shirt and pants and examined the marks on her neck. Then, her eyes were drawn to the bandage on her left side. She carefully peeled it off. The bleeding had stopped, but the stitches stung. Next, she removed the bandage on her leg and unwrapped her hand.

She shifted her gaze back to her foggy reflection and her eyes filled with tears. She blinked them away and stepped into the shower before she could cry.

The hot water stung on her cuts, but soothed her exhausted muscles. She washed herself from head to toe, but still felt dirty. She pumped out more soap, lathered, and scrubbed. She rinsed, then repeated the whole process once more. Twice more. And again.

When the last bit of soap slid off her skin, she breathed deep. She cringed at the sharp pain that caused. She tried once more, inhaling more gently, and slowly. It still ached, but the pain wasn’t as piercing.

Haley took a few more deliberate breaths, before shutting off the water.

She towel dried, re-bandaged herself, and then went out to the bedroom. She pulled out a loose fitting cable-knit sweater and fleece pants and slipped into them. The soft, dry fabric comforted her like never before.

Haley opened the bedroom door, wondering if Connor was still there. He said he would be, but the house was quiet, and she didn’t know how long it had been. She padded down the hall into the living room.

The android knelt in front of the fireplace, using a poker stick to adjust the logs. The blue light of the snowy night coming in from the window and the warm light of the fire made Haley start to feel safe.

A bowl of tomato soup and a glass of water sat on the table next to the couch.

Connor turned around, his expression concerned. “How are you feeling?”

Haley managed a small smile. “A little more alive.” She sat on the couch and picked up the water glass. As she drank, her bandages on her left hand loosened and unraveled.

Her hand shook as the vision of the killer strangling her came to mind. His crazed eyes and his callused hands squeezing her throat like bread dough. She had felt so helpless. She was so sure she was going to die.

And she remembered the feeling of when she stabbed his neck with the broken glass… his blank expression, and his blood covering her.

Then the coolness of Connor’s hand on hers stilled the repeating images.

Haley looked at him, kneeling in front of her, and the sight of his face anchored her back in the present.

The water glass sat on the side table, but empty. She must have dropped it, and Connor picked it up.

Connor grabbed the end of the gauze dangling from her hand. “Let me help you.”

He carefully and efficiently wrapped her hand securely. He gently pressed a piece of medical tape on the end, and rubbed his hand over the back of hers.

Connor looked up at her, and something tugged inside Haley’s chest.

The flicker of the flames reflecting in his eyes mesmerized her. She reached for him, and drew him in close.

But he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back, just a few inches.

“Haley…” He looked down, then back up with troubled eyes. “I’m just a machine.” His LED spun yellow.

Haley’s stomach twisted, and her heart dropped.

“Weren’t you the one who decided you were alive?” She stared into his soft, brown eyes. They didn’t flicker around. They remained still, looking deep into her.

Her eyes filled with tears and she felt she might crumble. She tore herself away from Connor’s gaze just as she saw his eyebrows pressing together. As she closed her eyes, the tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. “You don’t feel anything… for me?”

No sound but the crackle of the fire.

She finally dropped her hands and in another moment, she was off the couch.

Connor watched her, his face twisted with concern, still kneeling in front of the couch.

Haley opened the front door and moonlight and snowflakes poured into the cottage entry.

Connor stood up, a heaviness building in his chest. The look on Haley’s face and the tears from her eyes… He moved toward her.

“I want you to leave.” Her voice was a little more than a whisper.

Connor hesitated in the doorway, unsure of what he should say. He studied her face as she spoke. She wouldn’t look at him. He couldn’t diagnose this strange pull inside him. He could do nothing for her, and she had asked him to leave, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. He waited for her to look at him again.

Her gaze remained trained on the floor.

Finally, he slowly moved through open doorway and down the porch steps. He paused in his stride and turned halfway around.

As she closed the door, she glanced up at him, meeting his eyes for a single moment before she latched the door.

Connor stared at the closed door for a moment longer, then turned back and walked down the path.