Chapter 24: Conversation

Her heart shattered, like a hard disk broken into thousands of pieces in a recycle factory. Had anyone ever showed him sympathy? Cared for his wounds or wiped his tears? Did cyborgs cry? "That is what a person does, Balthazar. If someone is sad, you comfort them."

He didn't react, continued eating with methodical moves of his fork, his chewing still awkward.

Not knowing what else to do, she resumed eating. It took a while before she realized that they copied all her actions, down to the awkward way they chewed their food.

"The most important thing about eating is the conversation," she told them.

"You said we cannot eat and talk." Balthazar narrowed his eyes at her, and she had to bite her lip not to laugh.

"I said you shouldn't talk with your mouths full of food. When you're not chewing and have swallowed, you can talk." If she lost her job at the foundation, she could be the ultimate inter-galaxy dorm mother or something.