Grabbing her room key and purse, she headed toward the stairwell. Elevators made her feel trapped, even for the few seconds it took to descend the floors. Although she didn’t really want to take the stairs, she forced herself down every step, the echo of her footsteps bouncing off the walls. She could’ve jumped straight to the bottom floor from the ninth if she wanted, but being caught on camera—and the ensuing paperwork the TCA would make her fill out—stopped her. Technology had come a long way since her time and she could never tell where cameras were.
The energy in the lobby hummed, travelers checking in, women in dresses heading for nights out, men checking watches and pretending to be important. The bar was packed. Ruby’s shoulders released as she made her way to the only empty booth.
Being alone was harder than it used to be. Grounding herself was easier when she was surrounded by others, their presence keeping the weightlessness at bay. In the quiet, when it was just her and the emptiness, everything felt distant. Unreal. Especially at night, when the world fell silent and left her alone with her thoughts.
She missed the peacefulness that had once come with nighttime. Back when she was human, younger, the stillness had been a refuge. Now, it only served as a reminder of how much had changed.
“Bit early for a drink,” Jonah commented behind her.
She turned to find him leaning against the booth, his hair wet and dripping onto his shoulders, a pair of glasses perched onhis nose. His black sweatpants matched a black t-shirt that read “The Gardenfather”.
“Nice shirt.”
“Thanks, it was a Christmas present from my mom.”
Ruby tugged her bag closer and pulled out an old e-reader. The familiar weight in her hands brought her some comfort, a small distraction from the unease gnawing at her.
“Still a big reader?” Jonah asked, watching her intently.
"Not sleeping leaves me with a lot of time on my hands. Books help fill the space." She scrolled through her options on the same device he had once left on her bed—not that she would embarrass herself by admitting it. "You knew this, once upon a time. Are you not heading to bed?"
Jonah shook his head. “Slept during the day yesterday. Besides, I’m still pretty hopped-up on adrenaline.”
He engrossed himself in something on his phone before suddenly popping up from his seat. Ruby flinched at the abrupt movement, her muscles tensing instinctively.
“I’ll be right back. Stay there.” He sprinted out of the bar, not in the direction of the elevators or stairs, but the front entrance.
Ruby shrugged off his odd actions, clicking open a fantasy novel that had been lingering on the edge of her reading list. As she delved into the story, the world around her faded away, the words pulling her into a different realm.
She only looked up when a body slid back into the booth across from her. Jonah was back, breathless, sweat trickling down his neck.
“You alright?” Ruby asked, eyeing him curiously.
He adjusted his glasses, still catching his breath, and grinned at her. “Never been better. Had to catch them before they closed for the night.”
He pulled out a bag from a bookstore chain she recognized and placed a shiny new science fiction novel on the table. Then,with a playful smile, he slid a small white paper across the table toward her. Ruby picked it up and flipped it over. Inside was a sticker that read, "Sleep is good, reading is better."
She let out a laugh, a real one, the sound surprising even herself. Jonah’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise, but then his lips curved into a slow smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
They settled into an easy silence, each lost in their respective books. Jonah occasionally snorted or shook his head at whatever he was reading. It reminded Ruby of the months they had spent together—how comfortable it had been, how natural.
Eventually, he fell asleep, his head drooping forward as his breathing evened out. Ruby watched him for a moment, the peacefulness of his expression stirring something soft and unfamiliar in her chest. She didn’t wake him. Instead, she slid out of the booth as quietly as possible and made her way to the bar.
The bartender, a younger man with a friendly smile, looked up as she approached. “Hey there. Can I help you with something?”
“Are y’all still serving food?” she asked, scanning the bar. The place had emptied, save for a couple of patrons at the far end.
He nodded and pulled a plastic menu from under the counter. “For like the next five minutes. You’d have to take it to go. That alright with you?”
“Yup.” Ruby scanned the menu, her eyes landing on the burger section. “Can I get a bacon cheeseburger?”
But doubt immediately crept in. What if Jonah didn’t like burgers? What if he was a vegetarian? It seemed to be a pretty popular trend.
“And a side of fries,” she added, trying to sound confident.
The bartender nodded, jotting down her order. “Anything else?”
Fries. How were they made again? Potatoes, sure, but were they fried in animal fat? What if he was vegan? Had it been so long since she’d ordered food that she’d forgotten how?
