02-11-2021, 09:02 PM
Jude would argue that he hadn't done anything yet. The Family would beg to differ: he ran. Jude had wisely not explained why he was running, so perhaps he could claim that he was experiencing a belated burst of teenage rebellion. He was bored. He was curious. He wanted to see the world on his own! How convincingly could he tell these lies, if push came to shove? He tried to rehearse the excuses in his head as he clutched the handrail, descending the staircase with great effort.
Now he really felt sick. The edges of nausea extended beyond his view, the borders of body-nausea and soul-nausea melting into one another. Yes, that's what it was, soul nausea, though he could not have elaborated further. It was like smelling something unbearable, but the smell was not a smell, and the organ that was turning over was not the stomach but the mind. There was another wave of happy relief at Near's answer: good, he was still nearby. Near-by. By the way, Near...
He followed the sound of Near's voice, talking loudly in its direction as he came closer. "Just the closest store. Whatever store that is. I'll bring my bag. I have money."
Near had equipment enough. He had a car and a driver's license. He didn't need to understand; he only needed to accept, and even then for a limited amount of time. They just needed to be not here right now.
Now he really felt sick. The edges of nausea extended beyond his view, the borders of body-nausea and soul-nausea melting into one another. Yes, that's what it was, soul nausea, though he could not have elaborated further. It was like smelling something unbearable, but the smell was not a smell, and the organ that was turning over was not the stomach but the mind. There was another wave of happy relief at Near's answer: good, he was still nearby. Near-by. By the way, Near...
He followed the sound of Near's voice, talking loudly in its direction as he came closer. "Just the closest store. Whatever store that is. I'll bring my bag. I have money."
Near had equipment enough. He had a car and a driver's license. He didn't need to understand; he only needed to accept, and even then for a limited amount of time. They just needed to be not here right now.