KAREN REACHING AUTISM pt. 8
(Autistic author)
With Patrick gone,
the room feels eerily
quiet. Plankton lies
on the floor, his body
heaving with sobs. Each
breath is a battle, a
reminder of the pain
still echoing through
his body. Karen's screens
flicker with a mix of
frustration and sadness.
"I'm sorry," she
beeps, her voice a soft
hum. She rolls over to him,
her mechanical arms
extending to offer
comfort. "I didn't know
he'd do that."
Plankton's body
shakes with sobs, his
single eye squeezed shut.
He whispers, "No more
poking, Karen. No more."
Karen's screens
flicker with regret. "I'm
so sorry, Plankton," she
says, her voice a gentle
beep. She reaches out
with one of her arms,
carefully placing it around
his tiny frame. "Let's get
you up," she suggests, her
movements slow and
deliberate.
With her help, Plankton
manages to stand, his legs
shaking like seaweed in
a storm. She leads him to
the couch.
"Rest," she beeps,
but he's too exhausted to
respond. Karen sits beside him,
her screens dimming as she
watches him.
The silence is a
soothing balm to
his frayed nerves, the
hum of the Chum Bucket's
systems a lullaby compared
to the chaos of Patrick's
laughter. "Karen," he
whispers after a moment,
his voice a weak static.
Her screens light up
with concern. "Yes, Plankton?"
she beeps.
"Plankton not want to go
back to how it was," he
whispers, his voice a
fragile thread. "The
stealing, the fighting."
Karen's screens
flicker with a sadness
she rarely shows. "I know,"
she drapes a blanket over
him, tucking him in.
Her voice is a
soothing beep. "You don't
have to, Plankton. We'll
find a new way." She
caresses his shaky hand.
Plankton nods, his
eye finally closing in
relief. The warmth of
the blanket and Karen's
gentle touch offer a
semblance of calm in
the storm of sensory
overload, his crying slowing.
"Thank Karen," he murmurs,
his voice a tired static as he
squeezes her hand once.
Her screens glow with
affection. "You're welcome,
Plankton," she beeps. "Rest
now." She dims the lights
once more, watching over
him as she held his hand.
Plankton's body finally
stills, the storm of
sensations receding as he
surrenders to sleep.
Karen's screens
flicker with a quiet
relief. She sits beside
him.