“Wren, do you need to sit down?” Sam looked at her with fresh concern and began to reach out with one hand. She clung to the mental control she’d regained and backed up a step, terrified that physical contact could make things worse.
“I think I have to leave, Sam. I’m sorry. HR will have to mail me the stuff to be signed or something but… I have to go.” She turned and walked quickly back to the doors, not looking back as he called her name. She practically ran out into the relative quiet of the front walk, stopping to sit on the bench near the door.
The unpleasant truth of it was that he was right. She’d hated that job. She’d had no love for the work she did or the customers she served. She resented all of it, but hadn’t realized it was so obvious and off-putting. Her irritation at minimum raises and anger at being passed over for special projects seemed petty and spoiled all of a sudden.
Exhausted after the sudden intensity of what had happened indoors she carelessly let her control slip a bit. Thus it was a shock when someone else suddenly came within range of her new sensitivity. It felt like an unexpected shout beside her ear but instead of noise it was a barrage of feelings and emotions blasting her.
It was just some people from another team, heading back to the building after their lunch. Wren wearily blocked their loud thoughts and gave them a weak smile as they headed through the doors.
She called another cab to go back home. She needed to be completely alone so she could process what had just happened.
When she got to the apartment she found a message on the phone from Sam expressing his concern and assuring her that they could arrange to have the forms mailed. She was sure he thought she was having a complete nervous breakdown and really couldn’t blame him.
There was another message; this one from her brother, Kai. He usually only contacted her when he needed to know where their mother was or if he wanted to borrow something.
“Hey Wren. Can you give me a call? You didn’t answer my text the other night. I need to use your laptop for something and want to come over when you’re done work.”
She sighed. ‘Using’ her laptop probably meant something intrusive and annoying. He kept a copy of his online game backed up on her laptop in case of emergencies so it probably had something to do with that.
Tags: Chapter Three