Chapter 12: A Perspective of Time

“We keep humans because they can adapt better than we can,” Marian said, parroting the words that Jacques had told her, and that she was certain Harley’s maker had said as well. “They have more time to adjust. So I have that. I was not - that is not what I was looking for.”

“What were you looking for then?” Harley asked. Then she let out a breath and forced herself to be calm. She reminded herself that Marian wasn’t Jonathan, and that she hadn’t brought him up. She probably didn’t even know him, and it was unfair to be angry at her.

“Sorry,” she said, smiling and taking Marian’s hand in hers. She held it for a moment, swinging it back and forth and looking at it. “What were you planning to tell me to excuse the cold hand?” she asked.

“I usually go with the weather,” Marian said. “And then bad circulation, if it comes up again.”

“Bad circulation is my go to,” Harley said. “Good to know I hit the right one. Um. What about eating? How do you hide that?”