“. . . I’m sorry Earth didn’t treat you right.”
Anna’s shoulders curled inward. “Well. Not really the Earth. More like the humans on it.”
“That’s what I meant.”
“I am hopeful to do so much more here.” A careful smile crossed her face. “It’s hard to think of fun things to do when you’re struggling.”
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs flashed before Atlas’s cortex.It’s hard to focus on anything other than basic needs if you’re only surviving. His gaze drifted downward to his own hands.He looked at Anna, his hands twitching.I really want to know how she lived before. With that man. Paul.But that would be insensitive to ask, right?
“Hey.” She patted him on the arm. “All joking aside, thank you for helping me today.”
“I was not much help. This is still not right, Anna.”
She softly smiled. “Shh . . . it’s alright.”
“No. It isn’t.”
Anna frowned. “Have you ever helped a human like this? I heard a name from before? Clara?”
He stiffened. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Stella mentioned it once.” Twin spots of color appeared on her face. “She said you came over with her, but didn’t say anything else.”
“Yes. Clara came over with me. I cared for her like Sterling does those humans now.”
“Oh.” Anna ducked her head.
His processors spun.Is she jealous?A part of him enjoyed thinking she might be. Another part also knew there was no competition. Clara had been dependent on him for everything. Anna was not. With Clara, everything was provided, ideal, and perfect. And if it wasn’t, she whined until he stretched his processors to make it right. Instead here was Anna, who had turned over a box to be her chair here at the table, and who had another box next to the bed to hold a lamp.
It’s nowhere near the same. He softly touched her hand. “Ah. No. I haven’t experienced being needed like this before. Learning about you and humanity, how it is now, is new to me.”
Anna played with the edge of her hair. “Well, we’re nothing special. We just want to live in peace, right?”
“Nothing special?”The edges of his eyes crinkled. “Oh, I think that’s special enough though.”
She relaxed at that response.
Anna’s hair fell around her face, slightly greasy from sweating all day. The air was hot inside, despite the fan blowing on them. Did he need to turn on the AC? But the temperature was reading cooler on his sensors now that it was nighttime. The room was quiet. But it was a peaceful silence, reminding him of when he took rotations here at this barn himself to care for the animals and landscape.
The itch to share something more came back. Maybe a song? The theme song fromFriday Morning? Could he share?
Before he lost the nerve he reached within himself and started to play music from his memory. The song was delicate, lovely, full of feeling. Soon a voice came on, crooning about time lost. He watched Anna’s reaction carefully. “Sometimes when I’m alone, I play music like this.”
“Oh!” Her eyes widened. “This played on the radio a lot back on Earth.”
“Why do you think it did? This is one of my favorites.” His whole body relaxed. “You see, before the war, humans created songs like this. It always struck me as so off that they could make this and then . . .”
“Yeah.” Anna winced.
“If you like this I have others I can show you.” He tapped his fingers to the beat. “I can play the saxophone live for you in person. Sterling is always trying to get me to play with him. I’ll bring one back.”
“Ohh, yes, please.” Her eyes sparkled. She turned to face the window as the night deepened, humming along with the melody.
Atlas watched her expressions until the song ended and silence returned. His gaze drifted around the room beforelanding on the little rectangular box between them. He rubbed his chin.She liked it. She really did. The theme song.
He felt a rush to share more but Anna let out a yawn a few seconds later.
She’s tired.He shifted. But still, he was reluctant to leave. It was safe here, but walking out and leaving her alone felt wrong. But still . . .She needs to sleep.“Anna? It’s late. I can help you to bed?"
