30 Chapter 27 – Elza – Iteration 2 (2/2)
Elza jerked away from the hand on her shoulder. ”What do you know of men?” she snapped. ”What do you know about anything?”
The woman's shocked expression clouded with anger. ”I know more than a girl without a man. You think you are special, girl. Some day you will settle with a normal man and realize different.”
Hess grew smaller with distance and the women began to disperse.
Elza ignored the woman at her side, studying the dwindling form of her man and recalling all the times she had wondered where he was . . . wondered in what way he was violating the sacred command of the Observers. Now she knew the answer to that question. He had been seeking her.
Letting him find her would only encourage his obsession. Their dalliance would taint the work of two Observers, depriving the Creator of precious input into the experience of Her world. The only solution was to remain hidden. Hess would eventually tire of his search and resume his duties. Given enough time, it might even be as the woman claimed. Hess might forget her.
Her feet moved before she could restrain them. In a moment, Elza was running again. The abuse to her feet had healed and her form in this world was light and swift. She caught up to Hess in moments.
He spoke without looking at her. ”Go home, woman.”
Elza clasped her hands together. ”I just need to know one thing. Please.”
Hess stopped walking. ”What?”
”Do you love her?”
For a moment, it seemed he wouldn't speak. ”I couldn't hate everything He made.” He pointed back to the village. ”Go home. Choose a man and be happy with your life.”
Elza stared back towards the village, where the people went about their daily activities. That was where she belonged, among the subjects, among the participants of this world. She turned again to see Hess striding away from her.
This was where it should end. She had all the answers she had ever sought from Hess. She knew how he had spent his time in this world. She knew that those days together had meant as much to him as they had to her. She knew he loved her. Anything more would be a dereliction of duty.
”Wait,” she called. He continued walking. ”Hess, wait!”
He froze at the sound of his name, then turned to face her. Elza took his hands in hers and pressed them to her face. Though every feature was changed, the way he looked at her remained the same. And that was all that mattered. She kissed his hands. ”If you would walk the world for me, then I would go with you. I cannot believe She would disapprove of that.”