“What are you thinking. You will have a toddler when the event happens, that's bad enough, Beryl.”
“That hysteria is just theory. No one knows for certain what is going to happen?” Beryl half-yelled into the room.
I held my head in my hands and tried to think a way to convince her, but I didn't know anything for sure. Only that many other intelligent, knowledgeable people believe it will happen soon.
“How long has he been this way?” I asked.
“Years,” she replied. The bleakness of the situation echoed in her tone.
I got up from the chair even though it felt like led weights were pulling me to the floor. I walked around the man's bed. I knew his name was William. Every charitable act from the Eaton estate was done in his name.
“What is your plan here? Is anything expected to change with his?”
Beryl shook her head no. “I'm going to try to wake him up. I've been researching treatments. He can breathe on his own, but he hasn't made progress beyond that.”
“Why would he? It's got to be like living inside an incubator.” I ran my finger across an IV line and saw one of the staff members cringe. “He doesn't want for anything.” Except a bullet, I thought.
“I have considered that he isn't responding because he's too comfortable. Small steps like reducing his pain medication, letting the temperature stray from optimal, but I don't want him to be in any pain.” I nodded in agreement.
“We have been taught to fear sunlight, maybe sun exposure will help bring his self-preservation to the surface? I'm sure it's a totally stupid idea. I have zero experience with anything like this.”
“No,” Beryl mused.” that's interesting, a little fear, a little pain. Just enough to irritate so you try and get rid of the irritation.” Beryl was in deep thought mode. I remember this look from the last time we couldn't get the water conditioner pump to cycle back on. “So, I only leave the house long enough to go to school. I hope you can understand why I'm so preoccupied.”
“Of course, sure. It's got to be all-consuming for the whole estate.” I thought back to everyone I met on my way in. They looked concerned and territorial because they knew she was going to show me their secret. “I can keep a secret. I won't breathe a word of this to anyone, not Jason, not anyone.”
“There are things Jason doesn't need to know,” Beryl whispered.
“I told him everything about my abduction. We don't have secrets.” Beryl pulled at the long chain around my neck until it was at my neckline. She tugged at the three gold rings that hung from it.
“This ring is from Hess when you turned thirteen, this ring was Grandma Connie's, and this ring wrapped in bits of white silk. This ring is new,” she stated.
“I won't tell anybody about William because even I know this is forbidden, but most of all, because I can see you are falling in love with a dead man. You don't need to threaten me.” I pulled at my collar dropping the rings back into my bra.
I squeezed Beryl's hand. “It was good to see you today, Mrs. Eaton. I hope the rest of your day is a pleasant one.” I left the room and found a woman at the entrance to Beryl's wing, holding my fully charged day suit. I thanked the woman for her help and jumped into my gear fast enough to make Difference proud. Beryl didn't come after me. That wasn't our way. She and I have a long history of squabbles, but we always put them aside when the other needed help.
Greta and Priscilla met me at the front entry. My driver was holding a cake box full of glazed shortbread cookies. The tall man smirked at me as I approached. I grabbed one of the flaky pastries and thanked them both for a lovely visit.
Looking back into the core of the estate, I could see Beryl standing a few rooms away. She waived, and I waved back. It's hard to be angry at someone with a freshly baked cookie in your mouth.
THE BEGINNING
For everything, there is a season. I’ve heard this saying many times over the years. It’s supposed to encourage patience, maybe a measure of self-reflection. Seasons come and go each year—they repeat. It should say there is a time for everything, and once it ends, it is gone forever. Not as lyrical, but it is more accurate.
Several facts rule my life now. I am sixteen and a full citizen in the eyes of the law, I will be married in a few months, and the planet will be totally unrecognizable by my first wedding anniversary.
Our engagement was simple and private. We took a trip to the city after my birthday and bought a beautiful set of platinum rings. Jason slipped mine on my finger and asked me to marry him right there in the jeweler’s shop. My desire for flashy, fake moments died when I walked home in the baking sun wondering if I would live. Jason’s ability to provide artificialities left him while he planned the genocide of an entire population segment. We were both left jaded.
Change is the new normal. Some changes in my life have taken things from me that I can’t get back, while others have brought beautiful things, I can’t believe I ever lived without. I learned to embrace today because nothing is guaranteed for tomorrow.
Nina, my new and most favorite future sister-in-law convinced Hess to sign my marriage papers. After everything I endured getting back home to my family and my fiancé, Nina argued I deserved to make my own choices.
Traditional school
