see Richard and Archie,” she said, laboring, “their final moments … in the cell . . . just before the biots came.”
/ will not be afraid because 1 understand.
“And my children, if they can somehow be here. And Dr. Blue.”
The room became dark. Seconds ticked by. The pain was terrible. / will not be afraid , . .
The lights came on again. Richard and Archie were in their cell immediately in front of Nicole’s wheelchair. She heard the biots open the cellblock door down the hall.
“Freeze it there, please,” Nicole said with difficulty. Just to the left of the scene with Richard and Archie, her children and Dr. Blue were lined up in a tableau. Nicole struggled to her feet and walked the few meters to be among them. Tears poured from her eyes as she touched one final time the faces that she loved.
The walls of her heart began to collapse. Nicole stumbled into the scene in Richard’s cell and embraced the representation of her husband. “I understand, Richard,” she said.
Nicole dropped to her knees slowly. She turned to face the Eagle. “I understand,” she said with a smile.
And understanding is happiness, she thought.