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“That’s the Ataxian Consulate burning, Sophia,” she tells me. “The war is turning, it’s getting closer.”
“I know, Mama, but there’s nothing we can do about it. All we can do is live today and pray they don’t come here.”
“They will come everywhere, sweet girl. This is war, and the winners will not leave pockets of resistance at their flanks.”
“There is still a strong Coalition presence here, though. All the Coalition soldiers drink at the bar. They’ll protect us if the fighting comes here,” I tell her confidently.
“I’m just glad they need us to mine their precious minerals, or they would slaughter us all,” she says grimly.
“Come on. Let’s turn that off while you eat lunch at least.”
“I’m not hungry,” she replies. “And this is important! I want to know what’s going on out there.”
She looks pale, and I worry that she’s getting worse. “Come on, Isa made you some broth. You’ll feel better once you’ve eaten.”
“Broth, huh? I miss bread,” she says, shaking her head.
“I still can’t get ahold of bread. I asked at three different stores, but it just doesn’t exist here right now.” I help her sit up and eat. As usual, she doesn’t finish it.
The thought that Drex could get us off the planet and get Mama some proper medication sends a spike of hope soaring through me. I know I shouldn’t even dare to think it. I’ve seen enough of the girls at the bar give themselves away to every soldier that comes along. And I’ve picked up the pieces as their boys leave them behind. Why would things be different with Drex?
I leave her to watch the news on the Holo-Vision and go in search of Isa. I feel torn in two. I want to confide my growing attraction toward Drex to her, but I know she wouldn’t approve.
I find her in the garden. “How are the munga coming on?” I ask her.
“Not bad,” she says. “A couple more days, and we should be able to start harvesting.”
If it wasn’t for Isa’s amazing ability to grow vegetables, we would be much worse off than we are. I told Mama the stores were out of bread, but in truth, they are out of virtually everything. The shelves in every shop are more bare space than anything else these days, and the lines for the little that they do have to offer are often down the street.
“They look fantastic,” I say, looking at the heart-shaped blue vegetables. “What can I do to help?”
“There’s a blight on the sheebangs,” she replies. “They need wiping with a cloth soaked in vinegar again.”
“Oh, no, I only did them a week ago.”
“Yes, but it’s normal in this weather. They should be fine if we can keep the spots from forming.”
I go back into the house to collect the vinegar and a cloth. The sheebangs are our main crop. Isa hopes once they’re harvested and dried, they can be ground down to make a crude flour. It might not be quite as good as the bread you can buy from the store, but it could be a passable second.
“So what’s going on between you and that Kaleidian hunk?” Isa asks while we’re working.
My stomach turns at the thought of telling Isa that I think I’m falling for him. It seems so ridiculous. I’ve only met him a couple of times. “Not much really,” I say as lightly as I can. “He’s just a little bit of fun, I think.”
“You want to watch that ‘bit of fun’ doesn’t get you into trouble,” she replies. “I’ve seen the way you look when you talk about him.”
“I’m allowed to check out the hot guys, aren’t I?” I ask defensively.
“Oh, absolutely, it’s the perks of the job. All I’m saying is watch yourself. Don’t go falling for a soldier boy. They promise the world and then fuck off and leave without a backward glance.”
“I know that, Isa. I’ve seen it happen over and over again at the bar. I’m not naïve.”
“Of course, you’re not. That’s not what I’m saying. I just love you and don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I really wish I could be honest with Isa about my growing feelings toward Drex. I can’t stop thinking about him. But the way she’s talking, she definitely wouldn’t understand, and I really don’t want to cause a rift between us.
“I love you, too, Isa. And don’t worry, he’s just some hot Coalition dude that’s passing through. I know that. A girl can have some fun now and then, can’t she?”
Isa looks up from weeding the munga. I find it hard to hold her eye contact, so I look away quickly. I pretend to be concentrating on wiping down the sheebangs, but I feel awful for the deception. Isa is my best friend and confidante. I feel like she can see straight through to my soul.
