Toll was sitting in the infirmary letting a medic bandage
his hand. Ophelia came around the corner and entered the little area where he
was being treated.
“You must have really had enough of that wall’s crap.” No
humor in her voice.
Toll just stared at his hands. “I go blind sometimes.”
Ophelia nodded. “So much frustration builds up until you
can’t even see. One way or the other it’s going to come out.” Toll waved off
the medic who glanced at Ophelia. She nodded and took the bandages from the
medic as he left the room.
Toll took a deep breath trying to stay on an even keel and
failing. Pinching the bridge of his nose with his undamaged hand. “I keep
trying -“ He stopped suddenly and took a few more breaths to try and avoid
breaking down. “People are going to die because I was bored.”
Ophelia sat on the medic’s stool and continued to bandage
where the medic left off. “Well that’s bullshit and you know it. Your arrival
hasn’t here hasn’t done anything but give us the opportunity to maybe save some
lives in the long run. And anything that was going to happen back on your home
planet was going to happen whether or not you were there. Toll is not the mover
and shaker of universes.” She sealed the bandage with tape.
Toll looked at his hand. “I’m pretty sure I’m not even a
mover and shaker of Toll most of the time.”
Ophelia let go of his hand and stood up. “No you’re not.
I’ll bet you’ve spent most of your life reaching the precipice of life changing
moments and consistently run away from them.”
“I’m not a coward!” Toll almost hit the bench he was sitting
on.
“Cowards know why they're running. You just run for reason’s I
doubt even you understand.” Ophelia sat next to Toll on the bench as he stared
at his bandaged hand.
“Was there anyone in history that didn’t want to be what
history turned them into?” He asked. Ophelia nodded.
“George Washington.” She smiled.
“Who was he?” Toll asked.
“The first President of a country called The United States
of America.” She pulled her tablet out of her jacket and brought up a picture.
“I highly doubt you accidentally become the leader of an
entire nation without wanting to.” Toll
took the tablet and stared at the man.
“The United States had just fought for their independence
from a country called Great Britain. The war was hard and the British army
vastly outnumbered the American forces.” She stood up and began to pace in
front of Toll. “Washington suffered
several defeats and yet through incredible bravery and desperation he led his
men and ultimately the American people to defeating the British and winning
their freedom.” She stopped pacing and
looked at Toll, a smile on her face.
“And that’s how he became president?” Toll asked.
“No, after the war he retired to his farm for five years.
Only returning to oversee the organization of men that set down the rules of
law and reason for the newly formed United States because they asked him to. He
never took power, only accepted its burden willingly at the behest of his
countrymen. For that and many other reasons his name and legacy was a point of
pride even long after the end of the United States.”
“So history remembers him as a great leader and he didn’t
ever want to be. Yeah that sounds like a guy who got a raw deal” Toll handed
the tablet back to Ophelia.
“He did get a raw deal, because for everything he did and
for all the greatness we remember him for. He ultimately failed to stop the
creation of political parties. An idea he felt would lead to the inevitable
destruction of the country he loved. He wanted a unified and focused leadership
that worked for the greater good. Political parties inevitably split the nation
down the middle and devoured everything great about it like wild animals. He became
one of history’s greatest leaders and yet the nation he loved ended up giving
nothing more than lip service to the ideals he held and the goals he strove
for. He saw it happen right in front of his eyes and it happened until there
was no more America left to betray him.”
“And why would I want that?” He asked.
Ophelia sat back down. “You don’t. And luckily you won’t
ever have to worry about it. You’re so afraid of doing the wrong thing you’ve
never done anything, and history doesn’t have time for people who’ve never done
anything.” She put her tablet back in her jacket.
“Thanks for that.” Toll sighed.
“It’s a harsh truth dear. You’ve run away from more chances
than most ever get, so shit, or get off the pot. If you don’t, Rusty will, and
then he won’t be there to save you anymore.” She stood up for the last time, leaned
over to look Toll in the eye and then kiss him softly on the forehead. “You’re
an amazing person Toll, you just need to pull your head out of your ass.” She
smiled and left the alcove.
The medic came back in with some pills in a tiny bottle.
“You’ll probably want these once the numbing gel wears off.”
