The Sympathetic Universe Part 20

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Eliza spent an hour a day helping Gabriel learn English from his little guide. So, generously, Eloy spent two hours a day with him. Generously, he gave up his day to pick what food to eat, offering a bonus day on rotation to each of his campmates. Certainly, Eloy’s generosity could not be questioned. Eliza and Angel had…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 20

The Sympathetic Universe Part 19

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Sometimes you feel most alone when you’re surrounded by other people. Eloy’s campmates, for lack of a better term, had all been visited by their gods. Each one of them had made an abrupt transition from desperate to confident coinciding with the appearance of a remarkable new ability or artifact. Now even Angel was looking…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 19

The Sympathetic Universe Part 18

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It was after lunch, but that’s all anyone knew. Even the sun was hidden behind the clouds. For Angel, who was used to making the most of every minute, being unable to check the time felt like a strange kind of purgatory. Irrationally, she almost felt like the very nature of time had been wrested…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 18

The Sympathetic Universe Part 17

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Without the phone, there was no longer any such thing as Eliza time, but that was fine with Gabriel. The sun peeked through the clouds on the horizon, rays of light reaching out into the early morning sky. Gabriel kneeled at the window. He regretted the loss of his Bible upon his transportation, so he…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 17

The Sympathetic Universe Part 16

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After coming back half-dead from exhaustion and still without Eliza’s phone, Angel’s mood had darkened. Sitting on the green easy chair with her ankle elevated and wrapped in bandages from a first aid kit she’d found in the kitchen, Angel told Gabriel with no small amount of condescension that his “sacrifice” wasn’t virtuous when it…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 16

The Sympathetic Universe Part 15

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When light filtered through the windows of the cabin, Eliza began to worry. She stood to do her calisthenics, but when they were done and she had showered off her sweat, the worry came back. When Gabriel came out of his room, sat on one side of the beige loveseat, and asked in French “Eliza,…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 15

The Sympathetic Universe Part 14

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Crowded into in the radio room, the group listened with bated breath. Angel stood flagpole-straight, closing her eyes to better hear. “Destiny,” said Eliza, all professionalism, “where are you?” Angel was so glad that Eliza at least seemed interested in being competent. It troubled her deeply that between a sullen man-child with the world’s weirdest…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 14

The Sympathetic Universe Part 11

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“People always ask me,” said Reverend Boden in his characteristic long-short rhythm, “why does the world have suffering if God is all powerful and all good?” Eloy blinked and looked down at his iPod. The display said “Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication.” He rolled his eyes. Knowing his mom, He wouldn’t get to hear…… Continue reading The Sympathetic Universe Part 11