She whipped her head up and forced a smile while hitting random buttons to exit the screen.“Thanks,” she squeaked while praying he hadn’t seen what she’d been doing.
She gathered her stuff, sliding items into her bag by rote.Without routine, she’d forget things, so in went her jacket, lunch tin, and empty travel mug, and in that order.She powered off her computer, squeezed Elsa’s upper arm, and made her escape.Thirty-two steps took her to the front of the open-plan, her hearing pricked up for certain voices to guide her to reception.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Dad said, his rough hand on her wrist when he linked her arm through his.“How was your day?”
“Good,” she said, letting him escort her onto the walkway.A warm breeze, thick with fumes and the smell of hot concrete, flicked her hair back.“You don’t need to fetch me, Dad.I can get home by myself.”
He harumphed.“Nothing’s going to happen to my pumpkin.”
She shivered, distrusting his and Mom’s new affection toward her.Having never been granted their attention in this abundance, she didn’t know what to make of it.At least, she hadn’t heard how amazing her brother was, not after the whole drug-dealing fiasco.After the hospital discharged her, Officer Parsons had gone from hero to zero after that day.She swallowed past the pain cinching her chest.He’d checked up once then gone silent.Hell, she didn’t even know his first name.That said it all.
Bitterness layered her heart.Still.Because of her asshole brother, she had no prospects in career or love.
“Your mom’s making your favorite,” Dad said, lifting Tiny onto the bus as if she were a child.
“Again?”She frowned at having lasagna every two days.“I do like other things like pizza and takeout.”
“She’s showing you love.Appreciate it while you can.”
Tiny sank onto the seat her father guided her to.Appreciate their guilt?Accept this new family dynamic when her instincts screamed to run?She wanted to yell at them to let her have some freedom.After all, she’d enjoyed her independence during her studies.Living with her parents wasn’t the future she’d envisioned.And having a blind daughter not practicing medicine wasn’t the brag they’d dreamed of either.
Without a word, she let the autobus’s hum lull her into a daze.The air conditioner cooled the sweat dewing on her skin.How far away was far enough?Another city?A space station or ship?Her heart skipped a beat.Yes.If only she could find work somewhere else… Maybe then her parents would let her live a life without their interference.
They disembarked, rode the elevator to the fifteenth floor, then headed along the long passage to their apartment.As she did this, she counted the steps while wishing she didn’t automatically do that.With her fingertips on the paneling, her touch guided her past the neighbors.Heat slapped her face when she strolled into their home, Mom having not lowered the air conditioner to accommodate for the oven.Sweet vanilla hung in the air like an aftertaste, which meant chocolate chip cookies and ice cream for dessert.
“Hopping into the sol-bath, Mom,” she called and veered into her room.
She closed the door and sank against it.Minutes later, she stood on the plate and let the beam warm her body as it cleaned her.Her arm beeped.She tapped her palm, pressed it to her ear, and listened to the robotic voice vibrating along the bones in her hands.
“Application accepted.Position awarded to Tinika Bryant.”
She froze.What position?“Details please,” she asked, wiping shampoo off her temple.
“Masseuse at Celestial.Expected start is 8 AM in two days.”
She squealed, dancing on the spot.Shit.Reality settled upon her like ice water sliding down her back, and she leaned against the wall.She didn’t even know how much the position paid or what the perks were.Nor did she have a clue as to how her parents would deal with this news, but that would be their problem.
“Inform the employer of my disability.”
“They are aware,” the voice responded.
“What are the benefits, the salary?”She waited.
“Seven thousand tokens and a room.”
She almost sobbed.Half her current salary for the distance?Could she survive on so little?At least, she didn’t need to worry about rent.
“Confirm acceptance of offer,” she said into her palm.
“Acceptance confirmed.”The robotic voice tingled and was a little distant since she hadn’t held her hand to her ear for clarity.
She wrapped a towel around her head and threw on her pajamas.Then with a forced smile, she left her bedroom to announce the ‘good’ news.
Months Later.
Lunar Base
The Celestial Spa
