Part 683 – So Close And Yet So Far

I’m in love with Robin?

That can’t be right.

It doesn’t make sense!

But.

No.

It does make sense.

It explains why I feel so happy when he looks at me.

It’s why he frustrates me so much.

It’s why I couldn’t do anything to make Queen Preyuna happy.

Why I didn’t want to be with her.

Why I didn’t like him mouthing that woman’s face.

It all makes sense.

He sighed and took another bite of the pickle.

If only Robin could make sense too.

Should I go see him?

I want to, but what if he really hates me?

What if I confess my feelings and he rejects me?

What if I’m wrong?

What if it isn’t love?

What if I’m just craving friendship?

What if that’s all I need?

“I need to see him again.”

But seeing him face-to-face…I don’t think i’m ready for that.

Jay sat down at the table with his sandwich.

“Jay?”

“Yeah?”

“I changed my mind. I don’t want to go to Pinkerlee.”

“Okay. So, where do you want to go?”

“To the control room.”

“Uhhh, that place is kind of off limits.”

“I won’t touch anything. I just want to look at the monitors in there.”

“You think Robin will show up?”

Isellta put his half-eaten pickle back in the jar.

Jay opened his mouth to protest, but gave up as the pickle floated to the bottom.

“I know he will.”

***

“Come on, ‘sellta. Where are you? Where’s that stupid little face of yours?”

Maybe I’m wrong.

Maybe I bit the wrong person and I got some sort of sentimental brain rot.

Why would I….No. Scratch that. How could I be in love with someone who is a guy, is a fey, is so “This don’t make sense and that don’t make sense. The whole freakin’ world don’t make freakin’ sense.”

Forget it.

Just forget it.

He ran off on me.

He hopped into bed with the first fey he met.

Unfaithful.

Unloyal.

Little swine cart pushing….

Two men walked down the hall on the monitor straight in front of him. One was tall and dressed in some sort of robe.

The other man was slim. He wore a close fitting black shirt and black slacks.

Isellta?

The man in the robe said something that must have been funny.

The slim guy flared out his wings and flapped them in a happy gesture. He turned his head.

Robin’s knees wobbled.

The fey smiled.

Isellta.

He stroked the silent image.

He stopped and backed away.

What

the

heck?

What am I doin’?

What’s wrong with me? How can I feel like this? How can I…

They disappeared around the corner.

Robin’s heart pounded as he searched the other screens.

See, ‘sellta. You wanna talk about junk not making sense? Fine. This here don’t make any sense and it’s stupid.

Stupid for me to feel this way. Stupid for me to…

There!

Right there.

Isellta.

You stupid pest.

You heartless…

You…

Just you.

****

Isellta entered the control room.

Much to his relief, the room was empty.

He walked over to the monitors.

Robin, where are you?

Where—

He gasped.

Robin was on the monitor.

And he was looking right into the camera.

***

Isellta was on the monitor and he was looking straight at the camera.

He said a word.

And, though there was no sound, Robin knew.

Isellta.

Robin took in every detail of the fey’s face.

Isellta.

You stupid little donkey’s mule.

I’ve missed you.

More than you know.

And.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

I miss you. I miss seein’ you when I wake up. I miss hearin’ the sound of your voice. I miss just bein’ with you.

***

Robin said a word. His tongue and teeth saying the syllables with minimal assistance from his lips.

There was no sound.

No way to know what he was saying.

Isellta teared up.

He knew what Robin was saying.

Robin.

Robin, I miss you so much. I feel so alone here.

Please.

Please come to me.

Save me.

Take me home.

His tears fell.

Let me know I have a home.