I followed Kristina into her apartment, I was hit by a wave of memories. The space was larger than my own flat, yet cluttered and disorganized. Various religious magazines from many cultures were spread across the surfaces.
Kristina's figure was slender, her movements still carried the same fluidity that Toby had, but there was a newfound grace in her steps. She wore a simple, loose-fitting dress that contrasted with the high-tech ambiance of her home. Her hair, long and blonde, flowed down her back, catching the light from the neon signs outside her window.
"I've been through a lot to get to where I am now," Kristina said, her voice tinged with a mixture of pride and pain. "I consider myself, and people like you, Marlene, as Rogue Elements. We're not bound by society's norms, we make our own paths."
I nodded, still processing the change. We were indeed outliers, living on the fringes of what was considered normal.
As we walked through the living room, I remembered the heated arguments we had in this very space, the laughter that filled the air, and the tears I shed. It was a place of intense emotions, a crucible that had forged and then shattered our relationship.
Kristina led me to her bedroom, which doubled as her workspace. On her bed lay an assortment of erotic cybernetic augmentations, both male and female. The room had an odd mix of smells – synthetic lubricants mingled with the faint scent of incense.
"I work for Christian church now," she said, gesturing towards a workstation cluttered with editing equipment. "I make films about religion, for local church."
Kristina moved as if to hug me again, but I instinctively stepped back. I wasn't ready for another embrace. She seemed to understand and gave a small, sad smile.
Kristina's gaze lingered on me in a way that made me uncomfortable, her eyes carrying a hint of something I couldn't quite place. I shifted uneasily, trying to maintain a professional distance.
My eyes wandered around the room, landing on a shelf where a picture of Toby and me stood. Kristina followed my gaze and sighed. "I've wanted this meeting for months, Marlene. I wasn't sure how you'd react. At church, Father Matthias told me that changes need time and if God is willing, we would meet again in peace."
She offered me a glass of whisky – Glintstone, a brand I remembered Toby favoring. I declined politely. "No, thanks. I'd rather stay clear-headed."
Kristina sat on the edge of her bed, her hand absentmindedly reaching for a penis augmentation part. "I understand what I did wrong," she said, her voice soft. "My biggest regret is letting you down, Marlene."
I listened with my mind racing. My AuraSync Biofeedback Regulator (ASBR) was reaching its limit; I had been relying on it too much. Glancing at my biomonitor, the readings were clear:
Stress Levels: Elevated
Heart Rate: Slightly above normal
ASBR Capacity: Nearing depletion
I interrupted Kristina. "I'm happy for you," I lied, trying to mask my discomfort. "I didn't know about your change. I'm glad you've found a new path."
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "Yesterday, there was a robbery at my flat. Everything was in chaos. I contacted the megablock administration, but they sent footage claiming nothing happened. Is there a way to check that footage?"
Kristina listened, her expression still unnervingly intense. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, as if savoring the conversation in a way that made me feel even more uneasy.
My gaze drifted upwards, landing on a large picture of a transgender woman surrounded by other girls without clothes. It only added to my sense of being out of place.
"I never wanted to come here," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. "I wasn't ready for this... for the new you or old you." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions and the complexities of our shared past.
Kristina nodded slowly, her eyes welling up with tears. "Please, Marlene, don't judge me," she whispered, her voice breaking.
I stood there, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. My initial discomfort was slowly being replaced by a reluctant sense of empathy. Seeing the tears roll down Kristina's cheeks, something in me softened. With an effort that felt monumental, I moved closer and, overcoming my hesitation, sat next to her on the bed. Tentatively, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a hug.
We froze in that embrace for a few minutes.
"It's okay," I found myself saying, the words hard to utter. I bit my lip, forcing the next words out. "What's in the past is past. I... I hope you've changed, Kristina. And if you want, we can bury 'Toby' at the memorial park, as a symbolic passing."
Kristina sobbed quietly against my shoulder. "Yes," she managed to say between tears. "Thank you, Marlene. I'd like that."
The moment was cathartic in a way I hadn't expected. Here I was, comforting the person I had come to confront, the person I thought I despised. The bitterness and anger that had once defined our relationship were giving way slowly, it still need time but... it's good start.
I released Kristina from the hug and looked at her. "Let's look at that footage now, please" I said, more calmly.