for Leoben
Sharon knew, immediately, that something was wrong. Karl was considerate, he was especially considerate here, and waking up to a bed without him in it felt wrong. He would have told her he was going somewhere.
His shoes were still in the spot he'd left them last night.
Sharon dressed, took Hera from her crib, and left the room in a hurry. She looked in the Compound first, and when she didn't find him her heart sunk. He wouldn't have left without his shoes, he wouldn't have left without telling her. Still, she had to keep looking. She took Hera with her, unable to leave her daughter even if it slowed her down, and looked at the Pyramid court, at the beach, at New Atlantis. She didn't tell anyone, maybe this was just a bad dream. As soon as she returned to their suite, Helo would be there, waiting.
The door opened to reveal a room untouched, Helo's shoes abandoned on the floor. He was gone, like Six and Three, except he had belonged. He couldn't leave without her, without Hera. One small, choked sob escaped her, and Sharon slumped to the floor with Hera in her arms.
His shoes were still in the spot he'd left them last night.
Sharon dressed, took Hera from her crib, and left the room in a hurry. She looked in the Compound first, and when she didn't find him her heart sunk. He wouldn't have left without his shoes, he wouldn't have left without telling her. Still, she had to keep looking. She took Hera with her, unable to leave her daughter even if it slowed her down, and looked at the Pyramid court, at the beach, at New Atlantis. She didn't tell anyone, maybe this was just a bad dream. As soon as she returned to their suite, Helo would be there, waiting.
The door opened to reveal a room untouched, Helo's shoes abandoned on the floor. He was gone, like Six and Three, except he had belonged. He couldn't leave without her, without Hera. One small, choked sob escaped her, and Sharon slumped to the floor with Hera in her arms.