Among the Stars

by Matthew Ellis

  Dr. Johnson asked, “How did they understand it?”

  Dr. Henley answered, “They were the only civilization to unlock the key to time. They saw the universe as a whole.”

  Dr. Johnson said, “They can’t be the only species that figured out how to travel through time.”

  Dr. Henley said, “They are the only people to figure out how to travel through time in both directions. Other civilizations have discovered the technology to go forward in time, but they’re stuck there.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “So, what happened to them?”

  Dr. Henley answered, “They’ve reappeared after being gone for centuries in some cases. In others, their civilization dies and then the pioneers reappear and find some other place to live.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “So why do we have a responsibility just because a nearly dead society told us something?”

  Dr. Henley said, “With great power comes responsibility. Our Gylvanian society is the second greatest in our cosmic region.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “Only the time people are more powerful.”

  Dr. Henley said, “That is true for our cosmic region. There are millions of civilizations in our region.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “How many galaxies are in our region?”

  Dr. Henley answered, “Our Andromeda galaxy and The Milky Way are the most populated. There are another two hundred that we control.”

  Dr. Johnson said, “Why are psychiatrists in charge of stopping the travelers?”

  Dr. Henley replied, “Because they might commit suicide. Who better to stop a suicide than a psychiatrist?”

  Dr. Johnson said, “But it’s not like they’re depressed or crazy like most people who commit suicide. They’re looking for a better path.”

  Dr. Henley said, “The answer to your real question is forbidden knowledge to psychiatrists.”

  Dr. Johnson said, “I don’t understand how the universe knows anything. It’s an inanimate object.”

  Dr. Henley said, “It’s not, though. It has a conscious will. It sets life on planets and creates wonders every day.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “Do other civilizations know about the wonders of the universe?”

  Dr. Henley said, “All travelers do, and the civilizations that are sufficiently advanced know. Other than that, most people attribute the universe’s decisions to deities and superstitions.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “So, is the universe a deity?”

  Dr. Henley said, “This is forbidden knowledge for psychiatrists. “

  Dr. Johnson asked, “Is there an actual deity?”

  Dr. Henley replied, “This is forbidden knowledge for anyone.”

  Dr. Johnson asked, “Is there anything else I should know?”

  The realization went on for two hours, and Mikayla had all the tools she would need in her psychiatric career at the end of it. They both fell asleep on the couches at the end, but they woke in their own beds.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Pastor Rachel

  Sylvia went to church to pray about whether she should pursue a relationship with Brian. She was terrified when she realized that one version of him killed her.

  She thought, “I need to know if he might do it again in some other universe, but how do I ask such a strange question.”

  The congregation stood as the pastor entered the sanctuary. Pastor Rachel introduced the service and everyone sang a hymn.

  Sylvia thought, “I’ve got plenty of time to think about it. The service is just starting.”

  The service continued with the announcements and the scripture readings. Sylvia heard something about forgiveness, but she wasn’t paying attention closely enough to understand that she might get the answer during the service.

  She thought, “I wish the answer would come to me, but the universe doesn’t work that way.”

  Pastor Rachel continued the service with a sermon about forgiveness. Sylvia was trying to think about how she could ask the pastor her question. She heard the sermon, but she didn’t listen to the words the pastor was speaking. She got nothing out of the sermon.

  Sylvia thought, “I think I’ll ask her for relationship advice without actually telling her how I know what I know.”

  The service continued with communion. Sylvia didn’t take the sacrament because she wasn’t sure if she believed in God. She didn’t want to be a hypocrite.

  Sylvia thought, “It’s almost time; I know the pastor will have the answer.”

  The service concluded with a song and a blessing. Everyone stood, got in a line and shook the pastor’s hand. When Sylvia got to the pastor, she asked her if she could talk with her privately.

  Rachel said, “Give me about five minutes, and I’ll meet you in my office.”

  Sylvia agreed and walked to the pastor’s office. She was apprehensive because she had never been very religious, and she didn’t really feel like getting a bunch of sermons. Pastor Rachel arrived a few minutes later and they sat across the pastor’s desk.

  Rachel asked, “What can I do for you?”

  Sylvia answered, “I’m having trouble in my relationship and I need some advice.”

  Rachel said, “I’m going to need a little more information than that if I’m going to give you any advice.”

  Sylvia said, “I’ve seen flashes of extreme violence in my boyfriend. It’s not all the time, and he’s only ever been violent with me one time.”

  Rachel said, “How violent was the incident you’re talking about?”

  Sylvia couldn’t tell her about the murder. She had to think of something to tell the pastor that wouldn’t make her think she was crazy. She thought about it for a moment while she contorted her face to look like she was remembering.

  Sylvia said, “We were being intimate, and he was a little too rough with me. I asked him to stop, and he did. I just can’t shake the feeling that it was the tip of the iceberg, though.”

  Rachel said, “If it was me, I’d walk away from the relationship. It seems like he’s a violent person, and he might get worse.”

  Sylvia said, “But I love him, and he’s done so much for me that I think he really loves me, too.”

  Rachel said, “Maybe you should take a break from the relationship to test him. If he really loves you, he’ll give you your space. If he’s dangerous, he’ll stalk you.”

  Sylvia asked, “How do I know if he’s stalking me and not just really clingy?”

  Rachel answered, “It’ll be obvious. Stalkers are almost always violent, and they threaten you to get their way. If he’s just clingy, it’ll just be a bunch of annoying phone calls.”

  Sylvia said, “So how long should it take to find out what’s going on?”

  Rachel replied, “I’d give it about a month. You’ll have a good idea by then.”

  Sylvia said, “What do I do about the loneliness, though?”

  Rachel said, “Maybe you should talk to a counselor.”

  Sylvia’s skin crawled. She equated counselors with psychiatrists, and she wanted nothing to do with them.

  Sylvia said, “So you think I’m crazy.”

  Rachel said, “No, I just think you might need someone to talk to. A counselor is not a doctor.”

  Sylvia asked, “What’s the difference between a counselor and a shrink?”

  Rachel said, “Most counselors aren’t medically trained, and a lot of them are religious leaders.”

  Sylvia said, “I don’t want to hear someone tell me about how I need to find God. I barely came here, and that was only because I knew you wouldn’t judge me and preach at me.”

  Rachel said, “I’m not the only pastor like that. There are lots of accepting pastors out there. Anyway, I can recommend a few that aren’t religiously trained.”

  Sylvia said, “I think I’d like that. “

  Rachel said, “Going back to what you said about your boyfriend; if you decide to forgive him, do it right. Don’t bring up that night over and over again for the rest of your lives. Forgiveness means
that you don’t hold a person’s sins against them anymore.”

  Sylvia said, “I love him, so I think I can do that if he proves his love is real.”

  Pastor Rachel reached into her desk and pulled out a box of cards. She fingered through it and found an appropriate counselor for Sylvia. She handed her the card and offered to pray for her.

  Sylvia said, “I’m not even sure I believe in God. The last time you prayed for me, I was looking for answers to some pretty profound questions. I’ve received those answers since then.”

  Rachel said, “It’s entirely your decision. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  Sylvia said, “Thank you.”

  They both stood, and Rachel escorted Sylvia to the door. Sylvia stared at the card while she considered taking Rachel’s advice.

  Sylvia thought, “I need more strength than I have to pull this off. Maybe I shouldn’t have rejected the pastor’s offer of prayer.”

  She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Brian’s number. She stared at the number for a while. She couldn’t bring herself to press the send button.

  Sylvia thought, “I have to do this if I want answers.”

  She pressed the button and called Brian.

  Brian answered, “Hello.”

  Sylvia said, “Hey, Brian, I have to talk to you.”

  Brian was worried. He didn’t want to rehash his mistake, but he felt it coming.

  He said, “What’s wrong, Babe?”

  Sylvia said, “Ever since the other night, I’ve been worried about what you might do to me. I think we should take a cooling off period.”

  Brian said, “So, you’re breaking up with me.”

  Sylvia said, “Only for a little while. I actually need to work out some things on my own, too.”

  Brian said, “It’s because you think I’m going to hurt you again. I just got a little too rough that one time, but I apologized and I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Sylvia said, “This will let you prove that to me.”

  Brian asked, “So, you don’t want me to call you or hang out with you for a while?”

  Sylvia answered, “I’ll call you when I think you’ve proven yourself to me.”

  Brian said, “I don’t like this. It feels like you’re throwing me away for one mistake.”

  Sylvia said, “If you prove that you’re not going to get violent, I’ll come back to you.”

  Brian said, “I can do that.”

  Sylvia spent the next two minutes crying. She wanted to call the counselor, but she couldn’t make herself coherent enough to do it. She decided to put it off for a while.

  Sylvia thought, “If I still need answers after I calm down, I’ll call and make an appointment.”

  Sylvia drove home and went into her bedroom. She didn’t want to talk to anyone until she had time to clear her mind and make a decision.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Counselor

  Sylvia called the counselor that Pastor Rachel recommended to her. She wasn’t too worried because the pastor made it clear that most counselors are not psychiatrists.

  Sylvia said, “I need to make an appointment with Stephanie Baca.”

  The receptionist said, “I have an opening tomorrow, or one next week.”

  Sylvia said, “I can come in tomorrow. What time is the appointment?”

  The receptionist said, “I have a 9:00 or a 3:00.”

  Sylvia said, “I don’t do mornings in the summer. I’ll come in at three.”

  The receptionist made the appointment, and Sylvia made a note of it in her phone. Sylvia took a deep breath and started her car. On the way home, she thought about Brian and Pastor Rachel. She had so many conflicting thoughts in her head that she had to clear them, so she called Jenni.

  Jenni said, “What’s up, Sylvia?”

  Sylvia replied, “Do you want to go shooting?”

  Jenni said, “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Sylvia went to Jenni’s house and took her to the shooting range. Jenni took her gun with her, and Sylvia rented one as usual.

  Jenni asked, “How did it go at the church today?”

  Sylvia replied, “The pastor said I should test Brian to see if he’s likely to repeat his violence.”

  Jenni said, “I think you should just forgive him, but it’s your decision.”

  Sylvia said, “I already took her advice and broke things off with Brian for a while.”

  Jenni asked, “How’d he take it?”

  Sylvia said, “He was crying and begging me not to do it, but I think he understands why I did it.”

  Jenni said, “He’s probably confused as hell. This version of Brian didn’t do anything wrong. He’s not the person who killed you. That version of Brian’s probably in prison.”

  Sylvia said, “I wish there was a way to know for sure what happened.”

  Jenni said, “The universe probably doesn’t allow you to know what happened for a reason. Some things are better left unknown.”

  Sylvia said, “You’re probably right.”

  The range master announced the all clear. Jenni and Sylvia shot at their targets. Jenni shot 90% accurate, and Sylvia hit 92% of her targets.

  Jenni said, “You beat me.”

  Sylvia said, “It looks like you have a challenger to your marksmanship supremacy.”

  Jenni said, “Whatever. Even the sun shines on a dog’s ass once. You probably won’t be able to do it again.”

  Sylvia said, “We’ll see.”

  The range master ordered a cease-fire. The scores were tallied and the range was cleared of the spent ammunition. The range was very clean because the staff didn’t allow it to become unmanageable.

  Jenni asked, “What else did the pastor tell you?”

  Sylvia replied, “She said I should see a counselor. She thinks I need someone to talk to about my problems.”

  Jenni said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Aren’t most counselors psychiatrists?”

  Sylvia said, “I thought the same thing. It turns out that most counselors aren’t psychiatrists or psychologists. A lot of them are religious leaders.”

  Jenni said, “But you don’t believe in God.”

  Sylvia said, “I’m still not sure. There must be something in charge of the universe. A bunch of random objects can’t have a conscious will and decide to make these strange decisions.”

  Jenni said, “Sounds like you might need to figure out what you believe. Maybe you should do that before you see a religious leader who’s going to preach at you.”

  Sylvia said, “It’s not like that either. Most of them are just trying to help people by listening and offering advice.”

  Jenni said, “I have a bad feeling about it, though.”

  Sylvia said, “I already made the appointment.”

  The targets were prepared again and they loaded their weapons. Jenni shot 94% accuracy and so did Sylvia. Sylvia was grateful for the distraction. She spent the rest of the night reading about counselors in preparation for her appointment the next day.

  The next day, Sylvia parked her car and took a deep breath. She was nervous and afraid to go into her appointment.

  She thought, “I hope this isn’t a terrible mistake. If he turns out to be a psychiatrist, this might ruin my life.”

  Sylvia walked into the building and looked at the sign. The counselor’s office was on the seventh floor. She was afraid of heights, but she got in the elevator anyway.

  She thought, “I hope this office doesn’t have a window. I don’t like seeing down from high floors.”

  The office didn’t have any windows. The counselor’s office was a small room in the middle of the corridor. It had a desk with a chair, a computer for the counselor, and a couch for the client. Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide was playing on the office’s speaker system.

  Sylvia thought, “This is a nice office. I wonder where the counselor is.”

  The counselor entered the office from a hidden door in the wall. There
was a private office on the other side of the wall. The counselor was observing Sylvia as she entered the office.

  Sylvia said, “You just popped out of the wall. You could scare the hell out of someone and give them a heart attack.”

  The counselor said, “Sorry about that. My name’s Karen Carroll.”

  Sylvia was confused. Her appointment was with Stephanie Baca.

  Sylvia asked, “Are you the counselor?”

  Karen replied, “Don’t you remember calling me yesterday?”

  Sylvia said, “Yeah, but I made an appointment with Stephanie Baca. Where’s she?”

  Karen said, “She’s my partner. We share the office. I assure you that I’m just as qualified as she is. Are you ready to begin?”

  Sylvia said, “I’m a little nervous.”

  Karen said, “There’s no reason to be nervous. I won’t do anything to hurt you, I promise.”

  Sylvia took a seat on the couch and put her purse on the floor. She didn’t dare relax, though, because she might say something that would make the counselor think she was crazy.

  Karen said, “You can start by telling me what brings you to me today, Sylvia.”

  Sylvia said, “Well, I’m a little confused about my life and where I should be going. I guess I’m here for some advice.”

  Karen said, “A lot of people come to me for that. What’s going on in your life that has you so confused?”

  Sylvia answered, “Nothing in my life makes sense. My boyfriend tried to kill me, I don’t know if I believe in God or not, and I have no idea where to find answers to my questions.”

  Karen asked, “What questions do you need answered?”

  Sylvia said, “I want to know if I made the right decision taking a break from my boyfriend. I want to know if God exists. I want to know the nature of my life. Can you help me?”

  Karen answered, “I can try, but you’re asking questions that the smartest people on the planet can’t answer.”

  Sylvia said, “Let’s start with my boyfriend. He was trying to kill me the last time we had sex. He backed off when I got angry, but I think he might try again.”