[Day 284] Eugenia part 14

Read part 13 here!

Although I’d never admit it, having Julie with me on our trek back to my shelter was a rare pleasure. She was stubborn and opinionated, and vivaciously intelligent, but she was a living, breathing human being that understood my situation and was willing to talk about it. The small passing niceties I exchanged with people back in society weren’t nearly enough to satiate my need for human interaction.

“What was your score?” I asked her on out second travel day. The quicker-than-expected rate of travel was refreshing, and we were getting to know each other even quicker.

“I50.”

“That was what my best friend got.” Thinking about Zia pierced a particularly fragile section of my heart.

“Tell me about her.”

“Maybe another time.”

“Another time? You said we have about a week of walking to go. What time is better than now?”

She had a point. “I just…”

“You’re just sore. Give me a break. It’s been six years for you.”

“My best friend had the opportunity to escape an unfair and inhumane death, but didn’t. While she died, I was hiding behind a tree, watching the building that would become her final resting place. Excuse me if I don’t feel like discussing it.” My tone was sharper than intended, but I didn’t take it back. Some things just hit a little too close.

Julie backed down, but only slightly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset. It’s just that… the way your eyes looked when you mentioned her made me wonder. You’re a good story teller, and I just thought maybe talking about her would help you… forgive her.”

“Forgive her for what?” I was tiring quickly of this line of questioning.

“For not going with you. Now. Talk.” Abruptly, my new companion stopped walking, folding her bony arms across her chest and waiting. Once I realized that she wasn’t going to move if I didn’t start talking, I sighed and complied.

“My best friend’s name was Zia…

We met back in primary school. Although her parents were Nicks, they were well off, and managed to send her through the prestigious private education curriculum. She was beautiful even when she was five. She had hair so black she blended into the night sky when we snuck out after bedtime, and her eyes were this gorgeous chocolate brown. Her skin wasn’t dark, like the people of the Society of United Africas, but it was much darker than yours…”

“I’m not that pale.”

“Yeah, you are, Snow White. Anyways…

We liked each other immediately. She liked to dance, and I liked to play make-believe, two rare hobbies, as I’m sure you can imagine. After our initial bonding through our mutual love for things outside academics, our friendship only deepened. She used to tell me how afraid she was about not passing the test…”

“It’s ok. Just take a deep breath. Here, I found some tissues in your bag…”

“Anyways. Once it got dark, every Tuesday and Wednesday, we’d sneak out of our dormitories and meet in the courtyard at the center of the school. I’d bring two flashlights and she’d bring snacks, and we’d spend hours star gazing. She liked to come up with extensive dances in honor of the stories I told regarding the constellations. Her favorite was my story about the constellation Casseopeia, the queen, and her dance to match it was incredible. It was both deeply haunting and enchantingly beautiful.

We had to wear our hair in braids for school, even while we slept, but on those nights, we would shake them out and spin in circles, watching the curtains of our hair fan out around us. I can’t remember ever feeling more alive.”

Guessing I was done, Julie reached out to grab my hand. “How do you feel.”

“Better,” I admitted, wiping away a stray tear covertly.

“I s’pose I’m lucky.” she admitted, after we’d walked another mile. “I didn’t really get close to anyone. So when they marched into that chamber like an army of drones, it didn’t hurt too much.”

“Speaking of your escape,” I interjected, expertly steering her away from the previous topic. “How exactly did you expect to survive without food or water?”

Finally, something shook at her constant confidence. She frowned, avoiding eye contact. “I thought there was more. I thought I’d find a stream. There were some on the drive over… I watched. But I guess I kinda got lost…”

“…and ate too fast?” There was no doubt in my mind that I would have died if not for Gruber, because I wouldn’t have had any idea how to ration the little food I had. Julie was lucky I got there when I did.

Sheepishly, she nodded. I tried and failed to hide my smirk, and reluctantly my new companion cracked a grin as well.

Continued in part 15!