The Truth About What Makes You Sad

 

A "Crowd Hoot" Story

 

By Thelma Mary Caroline

 

 

 

 

The two sat quietly over the chess board, each thinking about their next move.  Kyle had been spending the evenings after work at L J's apartment, simply because she didn't like being along while Otto was finishing his shift.

 

"You know that elfitis thing Jeri had when she was a kid?" Kyle said, after moving her knight.  "How common is that?"

"Not so much.  If you're around elves a lot, then you're more likely to get it, obviously.  We had a big outbreak at the Center a couple of years ago, and just about everyone got it.  Of course, we knew better, so there wasn't much of that 'hey look, I'm immortal stuff.'"

 

"Not much.  But there was some?"

 

L J said nothing, just moving one of her pawns.

 

"It was you, huh?  That's why you like being beat so much.  Because then you know that you're alive."

 

"It's hard to never change when everything changes around you.  I shouldn't really be telling you this stuff, though.  It's top secret."

 

"I promise I won't tell."

 

"Yeah.  Check."

 

 

 

~Six years earlier~

 

"The Center is in total lockdown," L J said.  "And so is the Projects.   The disease isn't going anywhere."

 

"Good.  Where are all the healers?" Jeriziah asked.

 

"On the elf level, to provent any accidents."

 

"Good again.  Listen, L J, if you get sick, let me know immediatly.  I have Miyath on stand by."

 

"Your mother?  No, Jeri, you're not having her heal me if I get sick."

 

"You and are the only two people in the whole Center who were raised by elves--"

 

"I wasn't raised by elves. I ran away to them when I was sixteen."

 

"Still, you're different from the others.  You ... walk different somehow."

 

"It's the dyke walk!"

 

"I know you don't see it, but everyone else does.  I'll never grow older, but I can still die.  I want to know that the Center is in good hands if I do.  I want you to be be the second in command.  I know that you would always keep the elves best interest in heart, no matter what happens."

 

"No, Jeriziah.  I won't do it."

 

"You don't have a choice.  If you don't like it ... tough."

 

 

 

"It just sort of happened, is all," L J said.  "But it doesn't help to be angry."

 

"Can't it be undone somehow?"

 

"No, when an elf puts that much of their magic into healing you, they can't help but give you part of their power.  What it is that makes them an elf.  And a human, no matter how hard they try, can't give it back."

 

"You've tried, haven't you?"

 

"God knows."