It was some time later when Amy woke up from her deep slumber. She looked around and she wasn't in her room. Any of her rooms.
The room was simple, ladylike and very cozy. She then saw picture frames on its walls. It was of Malcolm, Elijah and April-
Amy couldn't help but, feel left out. She wasn't family but, she wished to be present there even as a guest. She was nothing more than a burden. She brought this upon innocent lives.
She opened the bedroom door before she heard murmurs from the living room. Tensions were high.
"Hey there girl" Greeted April cheerful, as usual. "You had us worried for a minute there"
"How are you feeling?" Asked Elijah worriedly.
Amy just shook her head and searched the room with her eyes.
Jason jumped in, "Malcolm went to his office for some final refinement or whatever"
Winnie from the couch hesitantly, "Amy- I didn't know just how deep your fear of the Elephant Media was to you before today." Explained Winnie, remorseful, "I just thought that you needed to understand the situation better. I know I would"
Amy still shook her head at her and went out of the apartment. She needed to see Malcolm. She has to see Malcolm.
His office door was weirdly open wide- his office cramped and noisy inside. She stood by the door to hear better.
"-I don't want to move!" She could here some old man complaining, "Nobody wants me over there that's why they stopped their monthly payments."
"Freddy" Amy could here the strain on Malcolm's voice and it killed her, "It's only for some time, a few months away. Take it as your vacation"
Then she heard canes being hit on the ground. Grumbling. Disappointment.
"It will never be the same, young blood" Amy could hear Ms Nova's sad voice, "We could die tomorrow and being buried like nothing over there..."
Came another voice, "Is there really nothing we can do.?"
Another chimed in, "Yeah, can't we just find a place to hide or come up with a story like we did before?"
Amy could practically feel the rise of expectations and she knew just how much it hurts when you as a leader can't meet them. Heck, can't even nod to their delusions.
She forced her way in until she saw Malcolm, standing on a corner. Exhausted. She took a pen and a paper from his desk before scribbling a note.
'Give me two days. I'll return your life as it is'
Malcolm read the note, and re-read it for confirmation. He was horrified. "No you can't!"
An old lady asked, angrily. "What did she say, Malcolm?"
Malcolm knew how to read and could tell it to the audience but, it would feel too real. It would mean that he failed to protect something precious to him.
Malcolm hugged the note. Yes, it could help- Amy returning to them and all that but what it won't? What if that's not enough?
Malcolm ignored the crowd,
"Amy please reconsider" Begged Malcolm, "If they are half as bad as you say they then you know it deep in your heart that you sacrificing yourself won't be enough"
The room fell silent. Some of the old guys could connect the dots and excused themselves out. In a single minute all there was left was Malcolm and Amy standing.
Amy wrote, 'This is all my fault, Malcolm. Should have never come here, I should have never let them find me and when they did? I should have faced them head on'
Malcolm took a deep breath before he closed the distance between them, "Amy- whether it was you or anything else. Sooner or later we would have been found out"
He continued, "We know it and you have to notice how everyone knew that this day could come"
Amy wrote down again. 'But I can buy you more time.'
Malcolm shook his head at her, "We don't need time, Amy." Malcolm said somberly, "We need permanence, safety- not everytime looking over our shoulders"
'So I'm useless?' Amy wrote not hiding her feelings. And Malcolm laughed.
"Oh no. You were just the wake up call we needed" Said Malcolm leading her to seat on the lounge area, "In the effort of protecting you. We just came to a perfect conclusion"
'And what's that?' Amy signed curiously before she remembered that Malcolm didn't know how to read her signs.
Malcolm continued anyway, "We would ask for charity and the money we'd get from it can take the teachers to school, cover the students insurance and if we are left with something- then the tenants wouldn't have to leave"