“Welcome.” Heoh gestures towards an office chair. “How do you feel after last night?”
Milly sits. “That was weird.”
“I asked how you felt.”
“Does that matter?”
His expression softens. “Of course.”
“I don’t dream, but …”
“The little girl?”
“I remembered my experiences”—Milly sighs—“similar.”
Those Homestead anecdotes were my best guess.
“I’m sorry,” Heoh says. “But after dark times, life improves.”
“Says who?”
“This is the story of humanity.”
She chuckles lightly. “Quite the prediction.”
“Tell your own fortune.” He clicks a money chip, shows her, then slides it across his desk. “Twice that once your debt is paid.”
She stares. “Can you pay my rent with that? I’m behind.”
“Can’t you do that yourself?”
“I know myself. If I touch that chip, I’ll go straight to the jeweler.”
Heoh smiles. “OK. We have an account for that. Tell me the payee and amount.”
She shows him her phone.
He fiddles a bit, then turns his screen. “Here’s what’s leftover.” He returns the chip.
Milly grabs it. “Thanks.”
“How’s your other job going?”
She stands up. “I’m still working at it.”
“Remember, don’t talk about what you’ve seen.”
“OK.”
“But if you need to talk — talk to me.”
She nods and leaves.
Sighing, Heoh nudges his bookshelf’s gold dragon figurines closer together.
My connection fades …