time enough for reunions

– Ree?
Melbourne asks
– Ree? is everything alright?
Riyadh picks up her phone
– sorry um…
– it’s ok
a pause, then
– we’ll be right up
– fourteenth floor, i’ll leave the door open
click
– who was it?
Cardiff asks
– she said her name was Soul
and no-one moves
– shit
Cardiff says
Melbourne’s thoughts have frozen
– shit
Cardiff says again
– do you think it’s for real?
Melbourne looks at Riyadh
– who would lie about that?
Cardiff thinks
– well, anyone i suppose
– anyone who could do what they did to the chatroom?
– but what if it’s who hacked Mel’s phone? what if it is Soul and she did it?
– i don’t think so
Riyadh says
this black Limousine pulls up to the curb behind them
Cardiff nods his head to it and Melbourne and Riyadh turn around and look
– who do you suppose that its?
it just sits there for a while
then the doors slide open, and these two guys get out
casual but well dressed
and they just look right
their expressions are hard to read as they pass
but they go into the building in front of them
the whole wall of the first floor that faces the street is glass
they go in, push an elevator button
then disappear into the doors
– let’s go
Riyadh says
no-one moves
– let’s go
she says, and opens the door on her side
Riyadh gets out of the Jag and gets her bag together
Melbourne and Cardiff look at one another then exit themselves
as soon as they approach the glass front door they feel the tingle of a Wireless Neural Interface
this building was probably crawling with them
the doors slide open without a sound
slide closed behind them
the sounds of the city are immediately dulled, and the temperature considerably warmer than outside
not too warm, but comfortable
their footsteps reverberate against the flat surfaces of the foyer
the call panels for the elevators have no buttons
just flat metallic rectangles with arrows etched into them
Riyadh touches one
a chime sounds and one of the elevator doors slides quietly open
they get in, and Melbourne touches the panel for the fourteenth level
the lift smoothly rises with the whisper quietness of turbine drives
another chime, and the doors slide open
Cardiff leans out and looks
a wide hallway with white walls, grey carpet, black ceiling
he steps out and the carpet feels deeper than normal
his feet seem to twist ever so slightly as he settles his weight down
normally in complexes like this the noise of city outside could still be heard quietly, but they were greeted with silence
until voices filter down softly from the hall
the three of them exit the lift and slowly walk on the thick carpet
there were black doors spaced widely on both sides of the hall, and one of them was slightly ajar
they approached to the increasing volume of the voices
– i can’t believe it – i just can’t believe it
– you look so good
– i’ve missed you so much – all of you…
they feel awkward standing on the other side of the open door
none of them want to enter
– can you give me a minute?
and the door swings wide

Riyadh notices the woman standing in the entrance
there’s something of a serene quality to her posture, the grace of her movements
her eyes are moist but it does nothing to diminish her beauty
Cardiff notices the apartment
in all his life he’d never seen anything so big in a tower complex
most of the apartments he’d been in were shattered wrecks
and the trendy ones had been so small they felt like bedrooms
Melbourne notices all four of the occupants
the woman at the door in her plain clothing and neutral face
the two men from the limousine, one with a black leather jacket, the other with
a long sleeve t-shirt

and another woman embracing them both
a simplicity and elegance about her casual clothing that is of no easily definable style
but that immediately is to Melbourne striking and mature
– come in
the woman at the door says, and steps aside
they feel like school children
even Cardiff’s usual edge is gone
none of them know why they are here
but there’s something in the actions and conversation of these people that is inviting
– i’m sorry, you’ll have to excuse us for a moment
her voice is quiet and mellow
she turns away from them with the confidence of someone who isn’t anxious over guests
it seems that the four of them are involved in something of a subdued reunion
they embrace each-other
complementing
making comments about themselves
not saying anything and just crying
aside from the woman who has let them in, the others have not noticed them
she turns to them again
– there’ll be time for introductions later – i’m sorry, but we haven’t seen each-other in quite some time
the other three adults turn to the children and then look at the first woman
– i’ll explain everything all in good time – meanwhile make yourselves at home, put down your things
– if you want a shower the bathrooms are around there, i’m sorry we don’t have much to eat just yet
– otherwise relax, watch Media if you like, or sleep – it’s up to you. we’re going to need a little time to catch-up
they don’t move
– believe me, there’ll be time enough for worries. make yourselves at home