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Chapter 30
Ana
“Hey, mom.”
It’s midday the next day, and I’ve got nothing in my system but the instant kafe already in the room’s lush kitchenette. But I’ve showered, at least, and I sit now by the windowsill in a bathrobe overlooking the gray, cloudy city-scape below. It’s getting further and further into the colder season, and I wonder if it will finally snow today. I hope I get to see snow before I leave.
“Hey, honey-pot, what’s the matter?”
Mom is in the fluffy pink house robe I bought her three Christmases ago, and just the sound of her soft, concerned voice makes me want to burst into tears again.
I swallow a few times as she plonks herself down on our threadbare couch. “I think I’m coming home soon.”
“What? Oh, Ana-bee, what happened?”
“Nothing,” I say, and then clear my throat.
When I look back at the screen, she’s frowning gently. “That’s obviously a lie.”
With a shaky breath and a slow sip from my cup, I look outside again. “I think I’m in love with my boss, but he fired me and he says I have to leave the planet and…” I take a gasping breath, stop, and then sip compulsively at my drink again in an attempt to suppress my tears.
“What?” Mom huffs as she sits suddenly upright. “What? But what about your education? He can’t do that!”
“He’s the dictator of the world, Mom, he can do whatever he wants.”
“No, he freaking can not! Ana, he can’t take that away from you! No man—and I mean no man on this station or the next—has the right to take my daughter’s future from her!No! Absolutely not. I don’t care if he’s god reincarnate. Give me his number, I have a few words for him!”
I suddenly burst out laughing, tears pooling into my eyes as I stare at mom’s outraged expression and just imaginehow that conversation might go. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea… The planet will still need to have a leader at the end of the day.”
“Analina, I don’t want to hear it! You march right back to that man’s house and you tell him that nobody bullies my daughters, and that if he tries to force you out of your degree, your mother will grow wings and fly over there to deal with him personally!”
I sniff and look down, taking another sip of my kafe,which somehow tastes a little better now. “Yes, Mom.”
“I’m serious!”
“I know.” I sigh, and I rub my eyes with a lingering smile. “Listen, is Elena around? I haven’t seen her in ages and I need to ask her something.”
Mom sighs and collapses back into the couch, still looking outraged. “Seriously, the nerve of some people… You’d think that gravity centered from him or something!”
“Ma!” I send her a watery little smile and wave at the screen. “Hello? Where’s Elena?”
“Oh, don’t get me started on your ridiculous sister… I have no idea where she is! Mari says she just up and left the station with her boyfriend, not a single goodbye or a word of where she’s heading. Anything could happen to her and I wouldn’t know!”
“Wow, really?” I blink in surprise and pause with my cup halfway to my lips. “She just left?”
“Yes!” Mom rakes a hand through her pepper and brown curls, and glares as if Elena might somehow feel it. “Of all the irresponsible, impulsive things for her to do. I just don’t know what got into her!”
I sigh and lean against the sill. “She just gets lost in herself sometimes. I wouldn’t worry, she’ll come around and contact you soon, I know she will.”
“And when she does, I’ll have an earful for her!”
I find myself smiling at the familiarity of Mom’s reaction—annoyed at her children as if the clock’s still ticking and nothing’s changed, and it makes me feel a little more grounded.
“I’ve got to go, Mom, but thanks for chatting.”
“Always,baby girl. And if you need me to talk to this president of yours, don’t you hesitate to patch through any time and I’ll let him know what’s what!”
I grin a little broader and lift my wrist to disconnect. “Love you, Mom.”
