Education Center
[She knows exactly who is at the piano when she catches a couple of notes and she automatically changes course toward the sound. She walks inside and waits for the song to end before clapping to announce her presence.]
It's been awhile since I've heard that one. [Of course she's not sure if it's a good sort of nostalgia all things considered.
Going through today has been a strange sort of domino act she's not aware of. She woke with some basic knowledge, but for so many details it isn't until she sees some people or is asked about something that the domino is struck and they tumble over revealing more information—whatever makes sense of this person or topic or moment and fits in with the rest like a dream accounting for a sudden ringing.
Seeing Reid is knocking over a very long string of dominos. The man she loved for months that felt like years somehow. The one she lost and missed and finally moved past in what felt like a series of fits and starts that seemed to take longer than the actual relationship. Letting go isn't one of her strong suits. Chekov had to be very understanding. And of course time marched on and Reid is also the one she reconnected with in little ways over time until they could play chess or talk about black holes for an hour or more. They finally achieved that friends thing they talked about at the end and she managed to love him without being in love with him, not that she ever said as much. There were certain boundaries it never felt entirely safe to approach let alone cross. And sometimes when she sees him like this—smaller somehow, hurting—it makes her question that. Makes her wonder if even that level of distance was a good thing for both of them or if being all in on a closer relationship might have made some kind of difference. She's probably giving herself too much credit. Then again, if she'd know about the things he was trying she would have phased the equipment to death even if he hated her for it. But that's long since legislated and he's paying the price. She just wants to do whatever she can with what they have now.]