Mrs. Eaton and Beryl arrived early. Their gift to me was it was a red, strapless, knee-length dress made of antique lace and chiffon. The fabric and cut flowed like the princess costumes I played in as a child. Beryl lent me one of her favorite sweaters to cover my bruised shoulder. A bit of makeup covered my neck. Dredge created a comfortable space in his study for Beryl and the rest of the family to relax and watch the dining hall's festivities.
Aqua didn't disappoint. The crowd was a mix of our fifth-year classmates and Jason's sixth-year friends. Aqua and her older sister Honey fluttered around the room, helping Clara and a few staff distribute colorful paper flowers, and matching plates.
Trays of food appeared just in time to feed Jason's hungry group. Difference appeared out of thin air holding a gift box, inside was a retro decorative glass window hanging. A bright purple hummingbird and a golden yellow bee sat on a branch with hot pink and white flowers.
Clara squealed in delight at the sight of the beautiful object. She took it from the pile of gifts to find the perfect window to hang it before the morning sun.
“Diff it’s so good to see you.” I stood on my tip toes and hugged him tightly.
“I’m glad you made it back. I have nightmares about them dragging you over the barrier wall.” Difference has always been sincere and open with me. I could see the redness growing in his eyes.
“I don’t know what I would have done if they hurt you.” I kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so glad you are okay.” I could see him with the knife to his throat. I ran my finger over the side of his neck and felt the thin scar line.
Difference nodded his head and patted me on the back. His grip loosened and I could see he was fighting back tears. “We need to get you some food.”
“Yeah let’s do that,” he said, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. I walked him to the main table and left him with a group of our classmates.
Aqua and Honey seemed anxious for me to open their gifts but in private. They scooted me into the corner and opened the lid of a slick black box. Under the cover sat an oversized deck of playing cards, each displaying little brown people engaged in what looked like impossible, acrobatic sex acts.
“This must be the benefit of being a level three. The darker skin and more flexibility.” Aqua giggled like the boy-crazed idiot she is and took the card I lingered on from the pack. She ran across the room to Jason and shoved the card in his hand before finding another group to mingle with.
“Wow,” Honey said, taking a drink of red soda. “We need to find that girl somebody else to play with.”
“I'll see what I can do.” I patted Honey on the shoulder, put my little black box on the buffet, and grabbed another tray of snacks fresh out of the kitchen.
Jason took the opportunity to play his new collection of classic rock. The ancient cultures class made quite an impression on him once the topic moved towards music. The thought of all that literature, music, and art being lost in the 2076 panic. It was such a waste, how much of our society and culture will be lost after this next comet strike.
I pushed the heavy thoughts out of my mind and prepared myself for an evening with our friends. It wasn't hard to find my smile, but it was difficult to enjoy the simple things that I found entertaining weeks before.
Something vital had been taken from me that night in the pavilion. It wasn't something I could touch or have surgically corrected. This last birthday of my youth would seal the door between ignorance and enlightenment for me.
Ignorance is a negative word in most conversations, but I wish I could somehow get mine back. My friends enjoyed the simple pleasures of chasing each other around the big dining room. I felt responsible for preserving their last few days of bliss.
Jason stood in with a small group of boys across the room. He wore his black jeans and a white button-down shirt. Jason was still the same happy animated person I remembered, but the stress showed in his brow. His eyes were rimmed in dusty shadows and outlined by his heavy dark lashes. We could go through the motions tonight, entertain our friends, enjoy the extravagance pulled together for us, but I could tell he was as tired as I felt.
There was a band, Metal-lica. Some of their music was preserved after the 2076 events. Several songs were recently recovered in an old server farm during an excavation of the eastern part of the continent.
Jason couldn't wait to hear the lost tracks. The band's name was a matter of some debate. Many think the name is Metallica, and others claim the title is two hyphenated words. The room was split 50-50.
Jason had the sound system set just how he liked it. He nodded to dredge, who replied with a flickering hand gesture. Jason turned the volume up loud enough to shake the windowpanes.
The song he chose was soulful and haunting. The title was something about being unforgiven, and it fit my mood as if it were written from my life.
Jason ran across the room's length, slid a few steps across the slick floor, stopping to grab my hand. He twirled me around, flinging red chiffon in all directions. We danced and swayed together like he didn't notice an entire house full of people watching us.
After the next song started, one of Jason's friends walked up to us with a drink in his hand and asked if he could have a dance. Jason reluctantly placed my hand in the tall boy's palm. He was clean-cut, nicely dressed, had a pleasant smile. The boy asked me how I was enjoying married life.
