No. No way. It can’t be.
“Wasn’t that extraordinary!” she says, watching Desy’s exit. Someone lifts a mike stand from below. Annalise? “One, two,” she says. Tap tap. “Three, four.” A laugh. “I’ve never used one of these thing, you’ll have to excuse me!”
I lean in, squint my eyes. Robes? I can’t tell. But that hair . . . No. Not possible. It can’t be.
“My brothers and sisters, I have traveled a great many roads to be here with you. . . .”
Oh my God.
“Those both of the physical and celestial plane. . . .”
Oh my fucking God. Now the arms.
“Let us outstretch our arms. . . .”
The light.
“Let us welcome the light. . . .”
The heart.
“Open your hearts, my brothers and sisters . . . as we are one planetary family in eco cosmic light!”
Dead silence. Arms drop, hands clasped. A beatific smile to the stunned minions.
This can’t be happening.
I look to my left, my right. Everyone watching the robed woman, eyes wide. Entranced. Oh my fucking God. . . .
“And thank you to my benefactors, for bringing me here today. As I mentioned, I have traveled a great distance to join you in the celebration of my seedling, this glorious root that was born of my uterian soil . . .”
No! Fuckfuckfuck . . .
“My son, Yum Caax Evergreen . . . or as you know him, Todd!”
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK . . .
“Toddy? My little acorn? Where are you?” A squint. “Could we lift the lights?”
By the time they rise, I’m long gone.