Artificial Mates - Chapter 47

Grant stood on the platform, facing away from me when I arrived. Anna waved me goodbye and left, she was being considerate I guess giving me space or something. He turned away and greeted me with a smile.

“Hello, Liliane,” even though I saw him this morning I’ve missed him and it felt good to be near him. Some the Transfer arrive and we boarded. Since it was crowded we got a seat near the window. He pressed his shoulder against mine, I couldn’t help but lean in.

-I’ve missed you.

“Yeah, it was a long day. I have a long list. I’m beat,” I exhaled placing my head on his shoulder. He slowly stroke my hair helping me relax.

-I’ve prepared a healthy soup.

“I’ll have to send you some credit for your daily expenses. I’ve checked my salary today. They gave me extra for the overtime I did. I also paid rent and Sognare. I felt like a huge weight has lifted off my shoulders,” I said as I closed my eyes.

-Demos already send me some

“You should trust me also. I’m not some worthless woman,” I murmured. His hand stopped and he shifted, I opened my eyes and peeked at him. His silver eyes were sad.

-You’re very capable.

“Thanks, honey,” I let my head sunk back on his shoulder. Being in contact with his make me feel so peaceful.

-I love you

“Love you too,” I mumbled closing my eyes.

***

I ate dinner before Demos came back. We stopped by us all purpose thrift shop on the way home. Grant picked the bare necessities for the kitchen. I did argue with him when I picked clothes for him and Demos. He said that his friends have offered to give them used clothes. Demos even got brand new shoes from Jil. I felt bad for not being able to afford this much for the people I love.

-The soup is getting cold.

Grant’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at him sitting next to me on the couch. I was watching a movie while eating. I have no idea what it was about and we were already halfway into it.

“Sorry, I got lost somehow,” I smiled.

-Don’t worry so much about the details. We are happy to be here with you. Clothing is futility.

I gave him a tight smile. Still, it hurts to barely make it each month. I wonder if I accept the new job and move out, will it be better?

-Just eat, will you?

I sunk my spoon in the light orange smooth texture of the soup. Grant has grated some cheese over it. It was supposed to be a pumpkin soup with healthy vitamins and nutrients. It tasted like something and old grandma would go with you’re feeling sick on a winter night. Warm and comforting. I slowly slurped it while turning my focus back on the movie. It was one of Grant’s French comedies. I had no idea why most of the scene happened around a dinner table. Speaking of the table, the one used for our little wedding feast was gone. My two couches were back in place with my vintage coffee table in the middle of the room. When I set my bowl down the door in the entrance opened. Demos smiled as our eyes met.

“Welcome home,” I got off my feet. He closed the distance between us with rapid steps and took me in his arms.

-Will you tell us now?

I pushed away from his embrace a little shocked he would cut right into the subject. I looked around for an escape route and found that Grant has switched off the TV and waiting too.

“Don’t you want to take a shower first,” he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Already took one at the office,” he settled on his couch and pulled me along with him. “So tell us what happened. Why are you and your parents not in good terms,” his question hit like an arrow through the heart. I took a deep breath and dove into that past I never wanted to stir.

“At the age of 13, I was diagnosed with the void. I have one younger brother who was 10 and a big sister of 17. Frankly, my parents who were farmers and never dealt with mental illness or stress or something of that kind were oblivious of what to do with me,” I let out a shaky breath, Grant reached his hand and took mine. The contact helped me deal with the stress.

“I couldn’t make friends. The villagers were scared that I’ll spread that new disease with their kids. So, I couldn’t go out of my house without nasty comments and angry looks. mostly, they were scared of me. I now understand their reactions, back them it made my mental state worst. I had to be hospitalized for acute stress. The local doctor referred me to a specialist in Kumari R2. The city, a place where I’ve never set foot. And so I waved goodbye to my brother and sister on a December, a couple of days before Christmas. Mom promised me it would be only a short trip. The local doctor, Mr. Rajiv accompanied me for the trip. I wore my best dress, the one with tiny flower patterns,” I smiled at the memory.

“It was the first time I took the Transfer, my parents and a few relatives accompanied me on the platform. I had a small suitcase, a green one. I watched as my village disappears to a merge dot. Everything I’ve ever known. All the people I’ve loved and hated,” I chuckled and peeked at them. Demos nodded urging me to keep on. “The doctor wasn’t talkative. He kept reading his newspaper while ignoring me. The crowd at the station was nothing I’ve experienced before. The loud noises, the mindboggling flow of passengers. I screamed holding my head. That was the last time I recall,” I paused to catch my breath. Grant stroked my hand to reassure me. So I went on.

“I woke up the next day, Mr. Rajiv was gone. It was a room with a lot of beds and bars at the windows. I remember screams woke me up. A nurse walked in and gave the screaming girl tight to her bed an injection. I was scared I might get one too so I pretended I was asleep when she came to check on me. That day I-I cried as the night came. No one explained what was happening. The next day the same nurse pulled me out of bed and shove me in the bathroom with the other girls. We were about twenty between 11 to 17 years old. One of the girls named Sherley told me that we were in an institution for the mentally ill called a happy house,” I stopped my voice breaking. When I looked up my vision was blurry.