Chdrtlsy: A Short Story 12 Triggered Again

"Um…," she said. "But I really should… oh. Um…. I don't know…. Off the body work… but, I…."

Resetarits was about to stand and check on them when the door was pushed open a little more.

"La… Lottatna?" she asked.

Lottatna faced the door with a smile. "Erin, it's good to see you."

"I… I don't want… but, my issue…."

"Step inside so you have more privacy. I'll stay on this side of the table so you feel safe."

Erin stepped inside and closed the door. Her eyes widened even more when she saw Resetarits.

"Is…? Is that…?"

"This is Resetarits. He is not a client, but the change I told you about occurred when someone pushed me into him."

"Then why is he here?" she asked, scooting away from him.

"To help me, should I need it. He won't touch, or move closer to, you."

She nodded, but kept a wary eye on both of them.

"Now, you were trying to tell me something about what you wanted to work on."

"My left knee is… bothering me again and… I know the hands on stuff works, but… I don't want… I don't…"

"But you do not wish to change as I have changed," Lottatna said.

Erin nodded.

"I understand. Which is why I am wearing gloves that have been soaked in flower essences. My hope is that the flower essences will be a sufficient barrier to prevent my touch from changing my clients. The risk is yours to take, or I can do the best I can without touching, or I could refer you to another pract.i.tioner"

"I have no way to get to another pract.i.tioner," Erin said softly. "But, I…"

"Erin, you need to decide what is best for you. You know the risk; you know what tools I have access to; and you know what it is you need worked on."

Her head lowered slightly.

"If you would like time to think things over, we can reschedule. The choice is yours."

Very slowly, Erin slipped off her shoes, approached the table and lay down. Her arms remained curled over her chest. Lottatna hovered her hand above Erin's knee.

"Move it around for me."

She did, wincing as the joint popped and made other noises. When she stilled, Lottatna kept her hand above the knee. The other moved up to hover above Erin's hip. They walked through several emotions before Lottatna turned to her shelves containing little flower essence bottles. She paused her work long enough to get one. For a moment she just held it in her hand. Lottatna turned back to Erin.

"There is something by your knee that needs a little physical manipulation in order for this balance to correct," she said.

Erin took a shaky breath and blew it out.

"I can send you to someone who does ma.s.sage and have them do it."

Erin shook her head. "I don't trust anyone, but you to touch me. You're safe."

"Okay. Would you like me to address that today or another time?"

"Do you know for sure I won't change?" she squeaked.

"I do not, but I do know I need change my s.h.i.+elding a little to help you through it."

"Do it," she whispered.

Lottatna nodded then took the flower essence. Her energy turned cold and pulled in. A smell, a feeling Resetarits had not encountered before a.s.saulted his senses. But Lottatna remained unaffected as she approached Erin. She lightly set her hands around her knee. Erin shuddered, but the changing death sleep did not come over her. Lottatna rocked on her feet as she worked the tissues around Erin's knee.

Erin cried and screamed. Her other leg bent and her head and shoulders arched back. She gasped and groaned. Lottatna's energy shook more and her eyes watered. The smell and feeling increased around her. It concerned him. Despite not understanding what it was, he knew it was bad.

"Say, 'I stand in my power'," Lottatna instructed.

"I stand… in my power," Erin whispered.

Her body relaxed and Lottatna lightly ran her gloved hands across Erin's knee to her foot a few times. The she set a hand on Erin's shoulder.

"How does your knee feel now?"

Erin moved it a little. It popped still, but the other sounds were gone. "Much better. Thank you, Lottatna."

"Thank you for trusting me, Erin."

Erin got off the table, handed Lottatna the fee then hesitated. After a moment she nodded then left the office. Lottatna leaned against her table then lowered herself to her knees. A low growl left her throat, broken by sounds of pain. Resetarits moved to her side and wrapped her arms around her.

"Lottatna?" he asked.

Her growl turned into a snarl and she pulled away from him. She curled into a ball under her table. The smell of death came off her stronger. Resetarits crawled under the table and lay over her. The smell continued to build until she sobbed. She mourned, shaking and s.h.i.+vering as she did so. He brushed his nose against her cheek and rubbed her arm with his hand to try and warm her.

Lottatna's tears slowed some when her phone rang. She left Resetarits' arms and answered it.

"This is Lottatna. …Hi, Dan. …No, I understand. Thank you for letting me know. … I have this time on Thursday open, does that work? …Great. We'll see you then."

Resetarits got out from under the table, and set his hands on Lottatna's arms. She didn't turn to him, but she took his hand. She moved her note and sign to the inside of the door before they left the office. They walked home and he wanted to understand what this feeling was that he felt from Lottatna. Her stride was purposeful, despite her lips trembling.

When they arrived home, she started to pull away, but he stopped her. He lifted her chin and had her look at his. Her eyes were moist with unshed tears and her expression conveyed that she wanted to be alone. He caressed her cheek.

"Come talk to me when you're ready?" he asked.

Lottatna nodded then kissed his cheek. She stepped away, peeling off her clothes and tossing them in the bin that had held the flower essences. Then she entered the bathroom and closed the door most of the way before turning on the water. It never became a lighter stream for a shower. Soon it turned off and he heard the water splash as she climbed in. Resetarits sat on the couch to read for a while, bothered; yet not sure what to do with the new smell Lottatna was putting off in addition to the death smell.

After several hours, Resetarits decided to check on her. She still lay beneath the water in the tub. Her body s.h.i.+fting as she took a few shaky breaths then cried. Silently, he took off his clothes then got into the tub with her. He gently wrapped his arms around her. Her tails tangled themselves in his. They held tightly and he pulled her more securely against his chest. Lottatna pressed her forehead against his neck.

His touch was soft, his energy concerned. Lottatna kept hold of Resetarits until she was nearly asleep. Resetarits s.h.i.+fted a little. Their whiskered noses touched before he lifted her into a sitting position. The water was cold now. She s.h.i.+vered. They kissed then stood together. Her tails remained tangled in Resetarits' as they got out of the tub and left the bathroom. They stopped in the mini kitchen where Resetarits put something in the oven to bake. Then he grabbed the quilt from the bean bag and wrapped it around their still wet bodies. They sat on the couch together. Lottatna snuggled closer to Resetarits. He held her and lightly ran his hand over her abdomen.

"Lottatna, what flower essence did you take to help Erin?" he asked after a moment.

"Love-Lies-Bleeding."

"Do all the flower essences you use for s.h.i.+elding affect your energy in this way?"

"No. Today was a first."

"It made you put off a bad smell. One just as bad as the death smell you're still putting off."

She nodded. "A memory I thought I had resolved was pulled up—my emotions still as raw as the day it happened."
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"Will you tell me?"

She took a steadying inhale and her tails tightened in Resetarits'. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her head.

"When I was younger," she started. "I watched my brother **** a girl my same age. Being as energy sensitive as I am, I felt like I was the one being raped."

"That explains your pain and your distancing, but I still don't understand the other smell."

"The girl he raped was unable to get away; her screams went unheard and she was sure my brother was going to kill her."

Resetarits' mouth rested against her forehead a moment before he left a kiss. "Anything I can do to help separate you from her experience?"

She shook her head.

"Alright."

"Anything I can help you with?" she asked, turning to see his face.

"Promise to stay alive."

"I promise." They kissed. "We'll make it through this."

"I hope so."

They kissed a few more times before Resetarits left the couch, his tails sliding from hers.