“I…didn’t know it was Earth.”
“Butyou saw something. What was it?”
Iclosed my eyes for the briefest of moments, remembering J’s touch, his handholding mine, his kiss…
“Theywere… they were just predictions, J.” I looked back at him.
Heleaned in closer and tilted his head. “Did you see me?”
How does he know?
Iswallowed.
“Youdid, didn’t you?” He leaned in even closer.
Itook a deep breath and held it in for a few moments.
“Whatdid you see?” he said quietly.
Ibreathed out. My heart was racing, and I saw little black dots that told me Iwasn’t far from losing my consciousness.
“Dora?”He was whispering. “Tell me. Please.”
Myhead was spinning and my thoughts were a blur.
“I…saw you,” I said, the Senthien intonation gone, my voice showing true emotionsfor the very first time. “I saw you, before I ported to Earth. And I didn’tknow if it was the future or simply a possible prediction that might never takeplace.”
Hewas patient, trying not to push me. After a few moments of silence, he said, “Soyou were right, you did see me.” And he smiled, encouraging me to continue.
“No,”I said.
“No?”He was puzzled. “You didn’t see me?”
“I…I didn’t see you as I thought I would see you,” I said.
“Whatdo you mean? How did you see me?”
Ilooked at him, my heart racing. “In my Vision, you were very… very close to me…and…”
Therewas a long break.
“Andyou kissed me.”
Idon’t remember ever hearing my heart beating so loudly in my ears. I stoppedbreathing altogether.
Atfirst, he was just astonished. But then his expression changed, and I could seeresolve and a clear intention in his eyes. He knelt next to my feet, cupped myface, looked down at my lips and—kissed me.
Whateverthe Human heart was meant to do in this situation, it was not what a Senthien’sbody was ever supposed to experience. His lips on mine, triggering the most amazingsensation I ever felt, my mind went blank, and I lostconsciousness.
Chapter 15
“Youknow, I’ve been told I make an impression on women, but I don’t think anyone everfainted when I kissed her,” he said as soon as I opened my eyes. “I know itmust be the IP space you’re used to, but I just like to think it was because ofme.” He smiled widely.
“Itis you.” My voice broke.
Ilooked around. “It’s… this is not my tent,” I said.
“No.It’s mine.” He smiled again and said, “Sorry, I just can’t believe it. It’swhat people in black and white movies used to do!”
“Blackand white movies?”
“Don’tworry, I’ll explain another time. So, you said you saw me, right? What happenedafter that—after I kissed you?”
“Ido not know. I woke up. Every time.”
“Ah…okay… I thought… Never mind.”
Irealized then that he had a specific thing in mind when asking about the restof my Vision.
“Youthought… you thought that there was… a… a continuation?” I didn’t even know howto phrase it.
“No,no, I didn’t—really!” He raised his eyebrows in defense.
Igave a burst of resonating laughter but a second later I stopped it, both of myhands pressing against my lips. I can’t believe I just did that!
Hetouched my hair and said, “You have a beautiful laugh. I’ve never heard you dothat before.”
“Idon’t think I ever have.” I was confused but also happy. I liked what it did,the laughter. I smiled at him.
Helet a few moments pass.
“So…you saw me, before you came to Earth?”
“Yes.”
“Andyou knew it already when we met at the bonfire?”
“Yes.”
“Andyou didn’t tell me?”
Ilaughed again. I enjoyed it and let it last longer this time. “What was Isupposed to say?” I said.
“Oh,I don’t know—something like, ‘I know we’ve never met before, but weshould kiss. Soon.’”
Ilaughed again. When I calmed down, I said, “You know the Vision I had of youfalling down the abyss? It was a prediction. I was hoping, wanting—needing—itnot to happen.” I lowered my eyes now as I thought of it, and shivered slightlyfrom the sudden chill I felt. “And seeing you in my Vision was a prediction,too. I didn’t know if it would happen.”
“Iknow,” he said in a serious tone now, “and I realize it was very difficult foryou to tell me any of that. It’s not the Senthien way. And I am happy you did.”
Wewere silent for a moment, hearing only snoring from the neighboring tents.
“Come,I’ll take you to your tent. It’s late.” He opened the door of his tent. Then hestopped and looked back. “Listen, do you mind if I tell the guys about your… future-seeingability? Or would you like to keep it a secret, since Humans aren’t supposed toknow?” His lips twisted into a crooked smile.
Ihad to smile back. “I think we’ve passed the Human–Descendant barrier,don’t you?”
Helooked at my lips for a moment, then back at my eyes. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
Breakfastwas awkward. Everybody was sitting in a circle, and they all talked except Jand me. We were both silent. We kept looking at each other, smiling when we sawthe other looking back.
Forthe whole time, no one really noticed it until the plates were being clearedaway, and Peter looked at J and then at me, pulling his eyebrows together.
“What’s with you two? You seem… different.”
Jlooked at me for a moment and then smiled the most wonderful smile. I was leftspeechless. J turned to Peter and shrugged. “Nothing that wasn’t thereyesterday. Nothing that won’t be there tomorrow.”
Peternarrowed his eyes. “Huh? Should I even try to understand that?”
“No,”J said, laughing. Then he turned to me. “Dora, do you want to join me to washthe dishes?”
Inodded and got up. I still wasn’t sure if my vocal cords were functional, and Ididn’t want to try them out in front of everyone.
Assoon as we moved away from the group, J looked at me sideways. Then he movedthe dishes to one hand and stretched the other one toward me. “Can I hold yourhand?”
Ilooked at his hand and back at his eyes. My heartbeat accelerated in a second,and I had a feeling like someone was holding me by my throat.
Iswallowed and then shook my head. “I’m sorry… I can’t.”
“No.I am sorry. I am being too pushy. Let me know when you feel comfortablecrossing the IP distance, okay?”
Inodded.
Inreality, it wasn’t the IP distance. It was coming closer
