"I'm with Stilles. I don't think this is a good idea, Tim. You shouldn't be walking let alone running if something happens to us."
"I'll b- be fine, Sonic. Besides, the aftermath o- of the seizure is a- almost over. Just my s- speech is a bit messy." Timber answered. "We d- don't have much time. We n- need to get this o- over with already. Stilles doesn't e- even want me to go with you to beg- began with. Too dangerous. So let's just her- hurry up."
They were walking outside to the train station as Sonic was pleading with her. But she wasn't having it. If anything, she was getting beyond irritated. She wasn't helpless. She would do what she thought was reasonable. And this was reasonable. She promised and she wasn't going to revoke that promise because of a tiny seizure. Clearly, there was no reason to. She's talking, walking, seeing. Nothing is wrong with her. She isn't crippled. She's perfectly functional. Timber shook her in disappointment. He thought she wasn't capable.
She's just not strong enough to do something so urgent after a seizure.
Sonic noticed her disappointment and stopped. "It's not that I don't think you're able to do it. I know you are but it's risky. What happens if you have another seizure while we're in town? I can't help you there and neither can doctors. Everything is gone. Their equipment is probably destroyed."
"You don't believe everything is gone." She corrected. "If you thought e- everything is gone, we wouldn't be going."
"I believe what we would need if you had another seizure is gone."
She thought about his response. He was right. The buildings would be demolished. People would be seriously injured. If there was anything she could do to help those innocent people, it would be tending to their wounds. It was the only thing that was possible. She gave him a sympathetic glance and started to walk to the train station again. She had to get there. She had to tend to the people who are injured by her stupid choice.
"Are you s- sure the train is going to be r- running when we get to the train s- station since the tornado?" Timber questioned, turning her head to gaze at Sonic.
"Should run. When I left, it was running. It's on a timed schedule."
"But that's before the t- tornado happened. Wouldn't it stop because it's e- endangering people?"
He shook his head. "Shouldn't have an effect on the schedule."
"If the tornado took out the rail, it could k- kill people. That makes no s- sense."
She was right. The train could hurt people if it kept running. However due to the timing, it would not stop running. It would only stop to let people off at their destination and allow others to get on. While it was convenient for them, it was harmful to others. She was cautious.
When they arrived at the train station, she walked to the booth to buy a round ticket. Costing $4.25 for the ticket, she dug into her jean shorts pocket to retrieve spare change. Three dollar bills, four quarters, two dimes, and a nickel. She smiled politely and handed the change to the elderly woman who was operating the booth. The woman eyed Timber suspiciously, smashing the correct buttons to open the cash register. As the printer printed her ticket, the woman opened her mouth to chat.
"Aren't you the one who was on the news?" She asked, in a grouchy attitude. Timber glanced into the tiny booth and noticed the small box TV on the counter. She smiled nervously.
"Uh, I- I don't know what you're t- talking about."
"Yes, you do. You know exactly what I'm talking about. I can tell by your facial expression. I don't know what you are, but you are not welcomed here. Get the ticket and go far away. I don't want to see your face around here ever again. Do you hear me, girl?"
"Uh, you have the w- wrong person-"
"No, you're her. Lying is a sin. Better watch your tongue before the earth opens and swallows you whole. Now get out of here." She snatched the ticket and handed it to her. "And stay gone."
Timber's smile faded as she walked away. What was wrong with that woman? She was rotten, mean-spirited. Timber's existence meant something, not her power's existence, but her existence. She knew people would be cruel, they wouldn't understand. When people don't understand, they tend to take their frustration out on others. It was something she picked up when she was younger. When this had happened before. As her mom tried to explain to someone that Timber wasn't dangerous and just needed someone to care enough to teach her what was right and wrong. People would shun her mom, tell her she's idiotic, say Timber wasn't welcomed, and even tried to take her from her mom.
Some people just would never understand.
She sauntered to Sonic, sadness overwhelming her emotions. She missed her parents dearly, especially her mom whom took her feelings into consideration and understood her. The one person who understood her was dead and it was her fault. Was she going to make Stilles leave her too, or even Sonic? The thought occurred to her numerous times but she never thought it was a possibility. This would never happen, her past self would say but she didn't know. But it seemed like it was happening. She's dragging them into her mess and they will eventually leave her too. Leave her to rot in her own self-sorrow.
"Did you get your ticket?" He questioned, gazing at her expression. "You were at the booth for a few minutes."
"Uh," Timber stuttered. "Yea, I got it. Sorry, the p- printer was out of p- paper."
He nodded. Timber's heart felt dead. This was her fight and she was already losing it between what people wanted and what people needed. No one would understand how much will power it takes to not run away from her problems because of how it could affect others. It took lots. She could've coward, let Stilles leave her behind and screamed into the shadows. But she didn't. She stood up, and walked into her problems, taking it head on. Most people would support that, believe is was an act of bravery, but when it affected them and whatever outcome happened, they shunned it away on first sight.
She leaned on Sonic's shoulder, trying to not think about the was hard when the woman's words repeated in her head, multiple times. I don't know what you are, but you are not welcomed here. Get the ticket and go far away. I don't want to see your face around here ever again. Do you hear me, girl? Timber wasn't the one to be weak, but this hit her hard. Sonic stood there, staring at the camera above him. It didn't have audio, but it was cutting to the ticket booth, train tracks, and the security on duty. He watched the woman scold Timber but he knew she didn't want to talk about what happened. It pained her. People used to shun her away when it happened as a toddler and it was happening again. People were shunning her away.
Her heart was broken. A tear rolled down her fiery red cheek, burning deep into her skin. Her throat felt raw. Holding back tears was a tough job and she wasn't sure if she was winning the one battle she thought she would never lose. She wasn't one to be weak. But the woman hit a nerve and the tears were unbearable.