Voices – Page 13
When the sound of vomiting was over, and she heard the toilet flush and the sink run, Jen got up and joined John in the bathroom. He was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, hands folded behind his neck, staring down at the floor. Jen leaned against the door frame.
“You okay?”
John didn’t move. “Yeah. It’s passed now. I’m not going to want any cat-chew chicken for a while though.”
“I’m sorry John.”
John looked up at her. “Why?”
“It’s my fault. I made you do whatever it was that made you sick.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m the one who did it, and besides, getting sick was worth the experiment. I pulled something out of your brain, Jen. That’s important. That’s really, really fucking important.”
It was Jen’s turn to ask why.
John looked up at the ceiling for a moment, and when his gaze met hers again, he was smiling. “Because it means maybe I’m not crazy after all.”
Jen nodded. “I gotta tell you, Storm, I don’t think crazy people generally hold their shit together for as long as you seem to have. Between the whole finding me thing, and talking about Tim…”
“Yeah. Tim, who used to hide your cigarettes.”
Jen’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That fucker, he used to do it all the time, as if that was going to get me to quit. Jesus, John, that’s amazing!”
“I’m going to want to try that again.” John said. His voice was distant, as he pondered the sensations he had experienced. He wondered if he could get used to them, and avoid the unpleasant conclusion that had occurred this time.
“Sure, anytime. Just… let’s do it on an empty stomach next time, okay?” Jen said. “I hate listening to people puke almost as much as I hate puking.”
John nodded. “It’s a deal. Empty stomach.”
“What was it like, reading my mind?”
“Bizarre,” John said. “Like moving and not moving. I heard a voice, your voice, and saw a face. I wasn’t really in control, exactly, but it was something new. Something I haven’t done before.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah, it was.”
“You want to get out of the bathroom?” Jen asked, smiling. She held out her hands, and John took them, and let her pull him to his feet. They stood there for a minute, looking at each other.
“Gonna let go of my hands?” John asked after a moment. Jen did, and took a step back.
“I’m going to have to leave after tonight,” she said. “I can’t stay here. You’re… bad for me.”
“I am?”
“You are.” Jen turned and headed for the other room. John followed her.
“Why am I bad for you?” he asked, flopping down on the couch. Jen sat down at the other end.
“You make me feel things I don’t want to feel. Things I need not to feel, because they can’t lead anywhere good.”
John looked frustrated. “Everything you say is a riddle.”
“You’ll understand tonight.”
“So you say.”
“Wait and see.” Jen was smiling, but her eyes were dark.
John waited, and eventually he saw.
