“The way…”, she murmured, “…a human does”.

Carmen opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She grew pale and frowned again, stepping back and stumbling against the fridge. When she clung to the kitchen counter, her hands were shaking.

“I have no sense of touch”, Shane tried to explain, her voice calm and concerning.

“What are you saying?”, Carmen asked, her voice trembling, and jolted when Shane moved a step closer to her.

“Don’t be frightened”, Shane whispered, trying to soothe her terror.

“You freak!”, Carmen snapped and yelled, “You liar!”.

Shane jumped, surprised by Carmen’s sudden outburst of panic.

“Who… What are you?”, Carmen whispered, her face as pale as wax.

“I came to take Mr. Balford…”, Shane tried to explain, hastily, “…and I saw you. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. How you fought fro him. And you… you looked right at me… like I was a human”.

“To take Mr. Balford?”, Carmen echoed, panicking.

“I was there…”, Shane said, blinking, “…We’re always there. In every room”.

Carmen grimaced as if she had just been slapped.

“What are you talking about?”.

“I was there in the stairwell… when you cried for your patient. And I touched you. Remember?”, Shane explained again.

Carmen closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Why are you doing this do me?”, she whimpered, painfully.

Shane stared at her, feeling something exploding into her being.

“…Because I’m in love with you…”, she confessed in a whisper.

Carmen shook her head stubbornly, tears falling copiously.

“I don’t believe you”, she moaned.

“You don’t want to believe me…”, Shane replied in a painful murmur.

Carmen squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears with her palms.

“I cannot conceive of it!”, she shouted, “Just get out! Get out!”.

When she opened her eyes again, Shane was gone and she was alone.

Carmen slid down, sat on the floor, and cried her heart out.

”…So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don’t make no difference, escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees…”