MOAB

Chapter 32: Galene @ 2.9x nhs

Chapter 32: Galene @ 2.9x nhs

Galene dreaded going there, but she did so anyway.

She sighed, took the elevator up to the third floor of the hospital, and walked the too-familiar way to the scariest place in the world.

“Hi Mom,” she waved, forcing a smile.

“My dear, come here,” her mom said and hugged her warm.

“Hi Dad,” Galene said to the man lying on the bed. “Looking well today.”

Dad didn’t respond. She would have given everything to hear one more quip from him. He liked to tease her about her name. ‘Galene means calm. We should have named you Noise or something.’ Then she would get angry at him, validating his taunt. And she would never ever speak to him again, until he brought her ice cream.

The machine that kept him alive beeped in the rhythm of hearts.

Galene wiped away her tears and rubbed her mother’s shoulders. “Go on home, take a shower, nap. I’ll keep him company for a couple of hours.”

“But you have work to do, don’t mind us.”

“And that’s why I took the day off, cause everything is done for now. Come on, shoo.”

Mother grabbed her purse. “Are you eating all right?”

“Yes, mom!”

“Okay. Send me a text when you’re ready to leave. Don’t wait for Dad to do it, you know how he is, always forgetting stuff.”

Denial. Galene bit her lip and just nodded.

Mother left, and Gal held her father’s hand. He was in a coma, but doctors said that perhaps he could hear them.

“So, Dad, do I have news for you.” She shot off in quicktalk, barely realising it. “I met someone, and he’s polite and rich and creative, and he’s so handsome. But what I really like is that I learn so many new things all the time. My horizons have expanded, I mean, phoom, my head burst when I realised some of the implications of the things we’re working on. We’re throwing tech at a problem and coming up with patents as if they’re collectible cards or something. Hmmm… You would have liked it there. You would have liked him. At least I hope so. Oh, yeah, his name is Gregoris. And, umm, yeah, he’s a bit older than me. How old, you say? Well, let’s say twice as? What’s that? You don’t give a s**t as long as he makes me happy? Oh, daddy, that’s so wonderful to hear from you! Oh, I knew you were the best. And what else? Oh, right, we have a Muse. And she’s a gynoid. I know, right? It sounds so corny, and perhaps like a male-fantasy, but she’s really amazing. You can’t put your finger on exactly what it is that she does, it’s not one thing, it’s many things all together, but she like, creates a calm environment, makes sure you have what you need to focus on problem-solving, keeps you fed and rested and sharp. Yes, it’s weird. She costs like a billion euros and we have one just strolling around the penthouse and we just shoo her away and stuff, but she’s always there when we need something, and runs predictive algorithms all day so that she’s there before we need it. What else? Oh, I got on a bike, scary, I know. I wore a helmet, don’t worry. And Greg wasn’t drinking, he’s responsible like that. What else, lemme think. Oh, I’m halfway through my thesis. More than halfway, I’ve pretty much figured it all out in my head and just need to jot it all down. Oh, I’m gonna learn Spanish. Yes, really! And I’m taking nootropics and they help me think faster, no, Dad, they’re not drugs, they’re like ginseng roots and natural s**t like that, okay? Don’t worry about it.”

Galene went on like that for hours. Just talking to him, telling him little things. At some point they urged her that visiting hours were over, so she texted mom, got up, kissed her dad goodbye and went outside.

As she walked down the street, listening to people talk to each other or on phones, she felt weird. She bumped on a few people walking by. It was as if the sway of the foot traffic was different, not falling into the subconscious patterns we do when doing obstacle avoidance with our basic mental functions. Was everyone talking slowly?

Had she been drugged?

She checked her responses, recited pi, three-point-one-four-one-five-nine-two-six-five-three-

She took note of her step. Nope, she was walking in a straight line. In fact, she was stepping inside the squares of the sidewalk, never putting her foot on the lines.

Not drugged then. But people around her were slurring their words. No, not really slurring them, they were speaking clearly.

But. Too. Damn. Slow.

Come on already! Finish the sentence, man-on-the-phone-with-the-mistress. As soon as you’re done with work, you’re gonna do what to her silk panties? Say it.

Finally, he finished the sentence.

Ew.

Another person bumped into her.

She swiped up and typed a text to Greg. ‘WTF happened to people, are they slowing down? Is this how I’ve been talking to you since you met me?’

Gling.

‘Pretty much, yeah.’

Gling.

‘But don’t worry, you’re catching up rather swiftly.’