Hiatus: Final Scene

She leaves the room. Venessa cries into her pillow for the next hour. After a while, she gets exhausted and falls asleep. In her dream, she remembers a time when she was nine years old. Her foster parents at the time made her sleep outside as a punishment for telling her classmate about a clairvoyant dream she had about his goldfish dying. It’s the middle of October, and the night is chilly. Venessa uses her puffer coat as a blanket the keep herself warm as she lies on the grass. A strange man approaches her and sits down next to her in the yard.

Venessa: Are you okay?

The stranger smiles: Yes, I am alright.

Venessa: Then, what are you doing outside when it’s forty degrees Fahrenhilt?

The stranger laughs: I came to see you, Venessa.

Venessa: Me? Are you with the government?

Stranger: No, I do not work for the United States government.

Venessa: Why do grown-ups talk so fancy?

Stranger: I am aware that I speak a bit differently than other people you may have heard. I am sorry that you have to sleep out in the cold like this. Here…

The stranger takes off his coat and lays it over Venessa on top of her puffer coat.

Venessa: Thank you! But won’t you be cold?

The stranger shakes his head: I will be alright, do not worry.

Venessa: You’re not from around here, are you?

The stranger smiles: As surprising as it may seem, I have visited here before.

Venessa: What was it like the last time you came to D.C.?

Stranger: I can truly say that the visit was an experience that I will never forget.

Venessa looks up at the setting sun: It’s pink. And purple. And blue! And orange! Why does J.J. talk about how pretty rainbows are when you have all these colors right here?!

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Stranger: I do not know. I have seen a rainbow and a sunset, and I have yet to decide which one of them is more beautiful. However, I think that there has not been a more beautiful phenomenon than the ones that live in houses and buildings.

Venessa: Oh! I’ve seen rainbows in houses! They happen when sunlight shines through the glass!

The stranger laughs and stands up to walk away: Well, I have to leave you for now. I promise I will see you soon.

Venessa: Promise, promise?

Stranger: I promise you infinitely.

Venessa: Yay!

Stranger: And, Venessa?

Venessa: Yeah?

Stranger: The meaning of words changes depending on the context. “Usual” and “Unusual” can be different when viewed from a new perspective. Remember this.

The stranger begins walking away.

Venessa: Bye!

The stranger smiles: Goodbye, Oracle.

He disappears into the night.

Venessa: Oracle? What’s a “cull”?

When Venessa wakes up, it’s 11:05 p.m. Avonari is sleeping and everyone else appears to be as well. However, when she listens closely, she can hear someone crying softly in the house. Venessa gets out of bed and quietly strolls through the Presley house, following the sound of the weeping. She stops near Annelise and Cory’s bedroom, where Annelise is sobbing into her hands.

Cory: Annie, I told you not to go talk to Venessa for a bit after what happened.

Annelise: I had to! She needed me!

Cory: Well, it seems like she hurt you pretty badly.

Annelise: But…

Cory: Yes, I know she didn’t need to. I just…it hurts me to see you hurting. Not to the same depth of your feelings, of course, but it even without your gift, it still hurts.

Annelise: No, it’s different. I haven’t had to restrain my feelings–my love–so much in years. Ever since I accepted my gift, I feel…much more deeply and profoundly than I ever thought I could. Now, it…it hurts me physically to restrain strong emotions like love.

Cory sits up and hugs Annelise close: Venessa has trust issues, and rightfully so. It’ll take time for her to warm up to us. I looked through her file yesterday. It sounds like she wasn’t as lucky with her placement in government foster homes as the other kids. Plus, she’s a teenage girl. She probably feels like her autonomy’s being taken away.

Annelise: I know, but that doesn’t change…

Cory: The way you feel?

Annelise nods: I love her so much, like I love each one of the kids in our care. They’ve all been so open, but Venessa…she’s so closed off. It might overwhelm her, and that’s why I’ve been holding back from expressing my love. But it’s threatening to burst out of me! I don’t know what to do!

Venessa bites her lip and heads back to her room. She stares at the wooden platform holding Avonari’s mattress until the sun rises.

Venessa:(to the stranger in her dream) Well, whoever-you-are, it’s been five years. Where are you?

End of Issue 5