Separation Anxiety

Part Eight

As Mork continued to huddle in the corner of his room, babbling gibberish to himself, Mindy realized there was nothing she could do to communicate with him in his current state. She decided to try a different approach to see if he would notice her, beginning to straighten up the room. As she moved about rearranging things, Mork did begin to watch her, surprised and confused by her presence. He observed what she was doing and stood, mimicking her, following her around the room as if trying to learn from her like a little child. Eager to help her, he began to use his powers in the effort, lifting the sheets and making the bed with his finger. It was almost as if they were home again, sharing household chores. Mindy paused when she saw him helping her. She smiled sweetly at him, hoping this was a positive sign that he was beginning to return to sanity, that their lives could return to normal.

"You see? You're doing a very nice job," she said. "Thank you for being so helpful."

Mork grinned, pleased that she approved of him. Reaching out, he touched her, his hand grazing her hair and her clothing. It reminded Mindy of when he was hospitalized, saddening her when she thought about how tentatively he reached out for her to prove her existence to himself, as if frightened that she could vanish into nothingness.

"Real," he said, smiling and nodding.

"Yes Mork, I am real," Mindy said. "I always have been. I'm here for you and I'm going to help you get through this, no matter how long it takes. I love you."

Releasing a choking, gasping sob, Mork embraced her, burying his face into her shoulder.

"Mindy," he said. "I knew you'd come back for me."

The door to the room opened, and Dr. Feldman entered, surprised to see them hugging when moments before when he had left, Mork had been terrified of her.

"I didn't get much from Dr. Friedman," he said. "I'm afraid we won't know the long-term effects of the drug on Mork, but it looks like you've already made a breakthrough."

"We have," Mindy said, smiling through her tears and stroking Mork's hair as she held him. "I can't be sure, but I think he's going to be just fine."

Several Weeks Later

Mork sat with Mindy on a hill overlooking the wilderness beyond them, his sanity fully restored to him. It was a glorious, cloudless day, the mountain peaks visible for miles on the horizon.

"I guess from now on you'll think twice before taking my Jeep for a joyride," Mindy said, looking up at the sky and closing her eyes against the sun, enjoying the feel of the cool breeze against her skin.

"Well, I admit that what I did was wrong, but I took it out in the middle of the night when nobody would see me and the cops would be less likely to give me a ticket, so I thought I would be all right," Mork said. "I never realized that I would be in an accident. It made it easier for Dr. Friedman to capture me I suppose, but I think he would have proceeded with his experiment on us regardless of whether I had been in an accident or not."

"I suppose you're right. He was pretty determined," Mindy said. She opened her eyes and shook her head. "He certainly caused some damage. Dr. Feldman told me it took them just the last few weeks to restore the memories of everyone in town, including my dad and grandmother. It's terrifying to think what he could have done if he had managed to carry his experiment further, beyond Boulder and into the world at large. I'm glad he's in custody and Dr. Feldman's team is helping to crackdown on the others in his organization. It's scary to think how close they came to altering the world to fit their own agenda. It could have been like Nazi Germany all over again, but this time on a much grander scale." She shuddered and looked at Mork. "I'm just glad you're all right," she said. "For a while, I was worried that you would never come back to me."

Mork smiled. "I was worried about the same thing," he said.

Mindy looked down at her hand, realizing that she still had Alan's phony wedding band on her ring finger. It gleamed brightly in the sun as a stark reminder of everything they had been through.

"I can't believe I'm still wearing this," she said. "I could have sworn I got rid of it a few weeks ago. I guess so much has been going on with our lives and we were so busy trying to piece things back together that I hadn't noticed."

Mork looked at her hand. "Let me see it," he said.

Mindy held out her hand. "You're not going to snap it with your powers, are you?" She asked. "No offense Mork, but I want to keep all my fingers."

"No, I'm not going to do anything like that," he said, examining the ring around her finger. "I could, but it would be a delicate operation, and far too risky." He kissed her hand and winked. "I happen to like your fingers too much to try that."

"That's good to hear. So, what are you going to do?"

Mork gently held her hand. "I was thinking of removing it the old fashioned way," he said. "Stay still."

Mindy did as he commanded, patiently holding her hand still while he worked to remove the ring. It refused to give at first, but as he gently pulled on it, it began to slide off her finger and into his hand.

"There, see? That didn't hurt, did it?" He asked.

"Not one bit."

"Good."

Mork looked down at the ring. It was such a small, insignificant, and harmless thing, but to him it represented the torment that he and Mindy had to suffer at the hands of Dr. Friedman, helpless puppets in his cruel game of mind manipulation that had threatened to separate them forever.

"What are you going to do with it?" Mindy asked.

Mork stood, brushing the dirt off his pants. He looked off into the distance and then back at the ring, studying it for a while longer, turning it in his hand. Without saying a word, and without further hesitation, he tossed it, flinging it to the bottom of the hill.

Mindy laughed. "Good choice," she said.

"It'll never come between us again," he said, kissing her.

When he released her, Mindy looked at her watch. "What do you want to do now?" She asked. "We have all afternoon."

"I don't care, as long as I get to spend it with you," Mork said.

"Of course. We'll never be apart again, as long as I have anything to say about it," Mindy said.

Mork glanced back at the Jeep, parked a few feet away. A mischievous grin curled on his lips, and Mindy knew what he was thinking.

"Mork, no," she said, "Especially after what happened to you. I couldn't bear it if you were in another accident."

"But you're with me," Mork said. "Nothing will happen, I swear, especially if you're with me. I promise."

"Oh, all right," Mindy said.

"Yes!" Mork said, springing up from where he sat. He offered his hands to Mindy and helped her up from off the ground. "Come on, let's go. I'll race 'ya!"

He laughed like a gleeful child, running towards the Jeep. Mindy followed close behind, glad to see him so ebullient, healthy, and energetic, just like the Mork she remembered. They got in the Jeep, and Mork started the engine with just a wave of his finger. Although she had been with Mork for a long time, it never ceased to astonish her when she saw what he was capable of doing with his powers.

"Don't forget seatbelts," he said, grinning.

"One day," Mindy said, buckling her seatbelt. "I swear. One day, I will learn how to do that."

"It really helps on Ork. No keys to lose."

He moved the steering wheel with the assistance of his powers and little else, the Jeep almost driving itself down the secluded trail for one last joyride with Mork, Mindy at his side.

The End