The corridors are confusing.
People rush around her, scurrying to various unknown destinations with urgency
and purpose. The push of people feels claustrophobic to Elise as she stands
still in this seemingly seething mass of purposeful people.
Lost and feeling so alone
with a child not of her own, it becomes too much. The flight over rubble strewn
destruction. The smoky air that had choked her lungs. Not knowing if her
parents and brother had survived the insanity outside, but knowing that, even
if they had made it to a ship...That she wouldn't see them again for six long
years.
Holding this small baby in
her arms, sobs shake her to the core as she slides down the gun metal gray
wall, to sit, crumpled in on herself, trying to push away the reality of her
life. Maybe the child she held felt her emotion, or, perhaps, she was simply
tired and hungry. Nevertheless, her own quiet sobbing is punctuated by the
wails of a small infant. The crew of the ship takes little notice of Elise, the
necessity of getting their jobs done efficiently and quickly weighing on
everyone's mind. The resolute means survival, emotions have to wait.
**********
It is not until a young man
walks down the corridor, searching for the med bay, that Elise gains a measure
of comfort. Seeing her, so lost and alone, his heart breaks, just a little.
Easing himself to the floor beside her, he lets his knee touch hers as his arm
snakes around shaking shoulders. gently, he pulls her into his arms, careful of
the small bundle cradled to her chest. He does not speak. There are no words
that can ease the pain either of them have experienced, so, he holds her, he
shows her that there is someone who cares; someone who will take the time to
simply hold a grieving girl.
The sobs rattling Elise grow
stronger when she feels the reassuring embrace. As though, now, she was safe to
let go of that last barrier. Her near silent crying become heart wrenching
sobs; a keening wail bursting from her lips. Now that she's finally let go, she
can't stop. Elise feels as though her body is going to shake apart, but still
she cannot stop. Tears soak through the young man's shirt as he silently holds
her. Head nodding in affirmation towards the young orderly creeping up behind
unnoticed behind her.
Elise does not feel the
pressure of the hypo spray as it presses into her arm, nor does the cool rush
of liquid into her vein even register. But the sedative does its job, and she
slides into unconsciousness.
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