Please Don't

Geo and I looked into each others eyes, and for a moment time felt still. All my pains faded away and a weighty calm came over me, relaxing my body. I wanted to indulge in this feeling and make it last, but Thana's warning still prickled the back of my mind. I removed my hand from Geo's face to scratch that nagging spot at the back of my head and looked away.

Geo was suddenly broken from the trance and looked at me with confusion. "Why don't you want me to report this?" he asked while pointing to my arm, his anger resurfacing.

I covered the unsightly marks with my hand and slowly rubbed my arm to soothe it. I glanced at Geo but looked away when I noticed how intensely he was looking at me. "It will just cause more trouble, and I do not need any trouble," I said tiredly, my headache building once again.

"The one who will be getting into trouble is that Navis woman! You can't allow her to get away with this!" he shouted which made me shut my eyes tight in frustration. The room was silent but tense as Geo waited for me to respond. Instead of opening, my mouth formed a tight line in an attempt to contain my building anger and exhaustion. "Fine," he hissed, "but I won't allow her to get away with this! I am calling the council now!"

"Geo, please!" I finally shouted. "I can't do this!" A single tear slipped down my cheek, but I was too tired to care. "I am stuck between everyone's politics. You know the dynamics here and how difficult they can be even if I wasn't an outsider. I can't afford to anger anyone, especially since I have no one!" I buried my head in my hands and breathed in deeply in an attempt to collect myself.

I felt Geo's warm hands gently grip my wrists as he pulled my hands away. I looked up at him and could see the sadness in his eyes. He brought his hand up to my face and brushed away my tear. "You aren't alone, Flora," he said tenderly. "You will always have me by your side."

I gave him a sad smile and said, "and that could be my undoing." He cocked his head in confusion and was about to ask what I meant when I took a step away from him.

"We should do the exam. I'm sure everyone will wonder where I've been if this takes much longer," I said and quickly walked into the lab's exam room without giving him another glance.

It was the same physical routine tests: knee reactions, dexterity, heart rate and such. I had hoped the chill of the exam table would keep me alert, but my throbbing headache begged me to shut my eyes. It wasn't long before the rhythmic breathing exercises began to lull me to sleep.

In the distance I dreamily heard my name being called, "Flora?" My eyes snapped open when I felt a hand shaking my shoulder.

"Flora, are you alright?" Geo asked with concern.

I sighed and massaged my aching temple. "Yes I'm fine. Just tired is all."

He looked at me closely and rolled the thermometer across my forehead. "Your fever hasn't returned. It has been 3 days since you last had a temperature, so you are in the clear. You no longer have to wear your mask."

"Hmm," I hummed while nodding.

"Why are you so tired, Flora? Is it a side effect from the hibernation?" he asked while looking me over.

"I don't think so, I just haven't slept really well since coming out of hibernation. The last somewhat restful sleep I had was when were back in isolation before the trial."

"And why are you having trouble sleeping?"

I hesitated to answer. I had a good idea as to why I had a hard time sleeping which ranged anywhere from being in a new place to the inescapable guilt that finds me at night. "I don't know," I finally said, "but it is causing me to have a bit of a headache. Do you have anything to relieve it?"

"Medicine is not going to cure the problem. You need rest," he said as he pulled a blanket out of one of the exam table's drawers.

"What are you doing?" I asked suddenly awake.

Geo took a pillow out of another drawer and placed it beside me on the table. "You will not be going to work today. You need to rest here so I can monitor you," he said as he wrapped the blanket around me. "I will let Albin know you are excused from work today to focus on your health."

"Geo, I- I can't stay here. I won't work, but I can rest in my apartment," I pleaded, but he did not budge. I quickly tried to think of an excuse so that I wouldn't have to be alone with him in his lab for so long. "Being in my apartment will help me get used to the place, and maybe it will help me sleep better moving forward," I said, doing my best to sound convincing.

He was not unconvinced, but he eventually relented. "Fine, I will take you to your apartment myself after I notify Albin and the council. In the meantime you should lay down," he said as he gently pushed me onto the table. His touch sent a slight shiver down my spine, but he fortunately mistook it for me being cold. After placing a second blanket on top of me he turned off the lights.

"I'll be back to wake you. Sleep well, Flora," he said softly as I slowly closed my eyes. The room was quiet save for the low hum of the air filtration system and the sound of Geo's voice carrying down the hallway. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but his voice reminded me of one thing: I am not alone. With that comforting thought in mind I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.