“Can you please put that out.”

“No I think I will smoke where ever I fucking please.”

Wow. Where did that come from? Shocked looks across the table. Helena to her credit she just smirks. We can take this where ever you want to go sweetheart. Why all the venom. It eats away at everything.

“Fine. If you need me I will be outside.”

I get up chair squeak and wooden pegs scratch across the linoleum floors. She follows, with the heat of a burning bridge. I step outside and I feel everyone’s eyes on me. I know they all trusted me. I know they all count on me for something. I confess to never having known what it was, youth, vigor, I don’t claim to know the secrets of their hearts. There was always one heart that sang out to me more than any other, it beats, in time with me, just behind that sliding door.

I was alone for about 2.5 seconds before the leather and lace and spice that is Helena Peabody joined me lecture fed by our night apart. She looked at me for the longest moment. Then she spoke:

“You need to get a hold of your raging hormones, you need to act like a leader. I know your one and only true has returned to you, but you still owe us a debt of gratitude. We took you in, we kept you fed and secure, you spoiled ungrateful brat.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I want the person I elected to a position that I promised other more competent and qualified individuals. You are acting as if your whole world has just ended.”

“I can’t think with her around me.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“She is hurt….I could have helped her.”

“She has her life that’s more than can be said for all those she sent to the maker.”

She has a point. She has always had a point.