Page 27 of The Restoration Program

“What was lost has been restored,” a few others around and on the table answered in unison. But not all of them. Not Carlos, and certainly not Ellis, who glared at a random spot by his feet.

Burman stared at Nicole a second longer as if waiting for her to contribute to the call-and-response. She didn’t, her hope tinged with discomfort.But you weren’t lost, she thought to him, unable to fathom the optimism that had led him down this path.

Accepting her silence, Burman released her hands and turned to face the rest of the group. “On that note, maybe we should move on to some more positive experiences this week? Would anyone like to share?”

Holly leaped out of her chair, raising her hand and beaming.

“So, long story short. I threatened to sue the school, and now I get to go to prom!”

They spent another forty-fiveminutes in discussion. There were plenty of things for each partner to lament, but there were milestones that NüPrints boasted to the group with wavering pride.

I felt comfortable walking around the house on my own while Leanne was out. That was a big moment of ownership for me.

I finally got over my fear of looking out the window. Couldn’t stand it for the first two weeks—but here we are.

I figured out how to send emails and texts faster with voice to text. Getting better means I can be more present with the world online.

Some of them had been Restored for nearly a year. Others, just a few months ahead of her. As the meeting adjourned, Nicole felt the victories settle like curdled cream in her stomach. Dr. Burman insisted that the future was bursting with possibilities, but from where she sat, it looked pretty fucking bleak.

“It was nice meeting you,” she said to Carlos, once again marveling at his larger hand as he shook hers. “See you next time?”

“Two weeks is a long way off. Message me on the portal if you need anything,” he said.

She laughed weakly. “Yeah, I think Ryan will be doing the messaging for me for a while.”

Carlos pulled a face, eyes darting across the table towards the NüPrint that had brought it up. “If that idiot can figure it out, you’ll be fine.”

Nicole pursed her lips. “You’re real casual about all this life-altering shit, aren’t you?”

He laughed, the sound deep and coarse. “That’s just part of my charm, obviously.” Carlos shrugged, adding, “When you’ve been coming to these things for a couple months, you learn to cope.”

She snorted, then glanced behind them at their partners. Ryan was exchanging parting words with Rebecca and another human partner who had introduced himself as Jamal, and was currently spouting off a story about how he built a custom model of their home in miniature for his Restored wife to enjoy.

With the room’s attention divided, Nicole seized the opportunity to speak more bluntly. The online portal aside, it would be some time before she had direct access to others of her kind. She touched Carlos’ arm.

“So, um, I mean. Six months…” She lowered her voice, making sure the humans looming nearby weren’t listening in. “Are you happy?”

The easy expression on his face wavered. The way he regarded her, she knew she must’ve looked some shade of pathetic. A lost little lamb, desperate for answers. The chatter in the room felt deafening as he considered her in uncomfortable silence.

“You want me to tell you everything is going to be okay. But I don’t know. I know that we’re alive, but it’s not always easy.” When her face fell, he squeezed her shoulder. “But it’s not all bad, either. Find those glimmers. Hold onto them fiercely.”

Nicole’s eyes went misty. “You’re poetic for a gym rat.”

Carlos flashed a grin before excusing himself to approach Rebecca’s side. He slid a hand up along her hip sensually to get her attention. She perked up at once, stopping mid-sentence to bend down and gather him close. She cupped hands behind him, and Carlos leaned into her pale fingers as they closed securely, lifting him off the table. Nicole suddenly felt isolated, the last NüPrint standing on the table. She felt vaguely shy to look far up to wave farewell, then look toward Ryan.

“We’ll take you up on lunch next time,” he was saying to Rebecca. “And thanks for the advice.”

“Next time,” she agreed. She boosted Carlos to her chest, pecking his cheek. “You mind driving, baby?”

He rolled his eyes. “Youhaveto stop making that joke.”

Rebecca waggled holographic nails at Nicole and Ryan before meandering towards the door. Nicole watched her go, wondering what Carlos was feeling. Wondering what homes each of the other NüPrints were going back to.

Ryan let out a sigh, pulling her attention upward. He looked about as unsure of what to make of everything as she did.

“So, we’re too busy for lunch?” she teased.

“We have a lot to process.” Ryan laid the carrying tray at her feet, his soft smile pulling into a smirk. “That, and I’m too selfish to share you anymore today.”