Our lives were busy...always busy. We had raised three daughters and a son. Several of our children had children of their own; others had careers, all were happy. We enjoyed the occasional weekend together as a family and all holidays. My husband and I counted our blessings. While waiting for our dinner to arrive we talked, sharing our favorite memories. A few moments later we were brought back to reality as we watched a beautiful young woman walk toward our table. There was a purpose in her stride. Thoughts surfaced from a deep well of memories in each of us as the woman approached our table.
Until a few years ago my husband and I were both geneticists. We became wealthy; working to create perfection for the company referred to as 'Imogene Tri-X". When we witnessed perfection in beautiful people we were always amazed and inquisitive. When we created perfection in the lab we were also amazed and awed by the wedding of the mind and technology. When perfection eluded us, we tried to correct our mistakes. We were not 100% accurate all the time.
As the lady reached our table, we took in her appearance with some apprehension. She was lovely. A tall, slim woman with long ebony hair, flying loosely around her face as the evening breeze began to increase. Huge black sunglasses covered most of her face; soon the sunglasses would no longer be necessary. " Are you Dr. Elliot James and Dr. Elizabeth James?" she asked.
My husband and I glanced at each other before speaking. We were not famous and we preferred to remain unknown. Our work was classified information. Finally, my husband asked, " May I ask who wants to know?" A heavy silence hung in the air while the woman debated how to approach us now that she had our attention. "My name is Imogene Gainsley." she said as she removed her sunglasses. "And I need your help."
At last we could see her face. Although she was beautiful there was something unusual and memorable about her face. Her cheeks, nose and the eyebrow area were covered in small black dots resembling freckles. Looking closer, the small dots began to move ever so slightly; to the right, then to the left, a mad scramble followed by a lull in movement. Suddenly the dots began increasing speed once again, as we gazed at her face. At first the dots created vague tattoo like images that continually changed moment by moment. A dragon became a praying mantis, next a syringe and then a child's hand. Eventually, the dots appeared to be spelling words and making a statement. All other drawings disappeared to join in the writing process. As the dots reached the bridge of Imogene's nose, they began to slowly assemble under her right eye- the words sprawled -"You did this" ...seconds later the words returned to small transitional black dots. The woman's face paled as drops of sweat covered her upper lip. She grimaced from a moment of hot searing pain. Then beauty once again gained control of her face. The dots chose to remain under her right eye and slowly slide down the side of her jaw. Fighting back tears, Imogene refused to cry.
No one said a word as we all three tried to absorb what had just happened. Imogene was the first to speak, as she slowly sat down at our table. "Can you help me?" she asked. Without batting an eye, my husband and I said in unison, "I don't know...I really don't know."
The dots immediately assembled and replied, "You better know...you better know."
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