Raymond was running. Running to work, running home, running from the clock on his arm that constantly ticked, counting down the time till his death.
Amy didn't run. She slept late, took her time, stopped to smell the roses.
Raymond knew that one day that would have to stop. That very soon she'd start running. Once her clock started she'd realize that roses simply weren't on the agenda any more.
Right now Raymond was running home. Back to the tiny apartment he shared with Amy. He'd been 25 for 3 years now. He was working in the factories, as all male members of the Dayton community did.
Amy was teaching. At 24 years and 11.99 months of age she was teaching school children.
Raymond saw it as a pointless endeavour. She didn't earn much, which although didn't bother her now he knew would in a few months time. He didn't tell her though. Amy had always preached doing what you love rather than what paid well. He reasoned that this was one of the many factors contributing to why he was so smitten with her.
Having reached the apartment Raymond slowed down, and opening the front door as silently as possible he tiptoed into the bedroom.
Amy was already asleep, her long, slender frame visible under the thin sheets.
Raymond removed his boots and overalls and slid in next to her, wrapping his arms around her torso, breathing in the smell of her hair.
Amy always smelled like the sidewalk after it had been raining. That was another thing Raymond loved about her.
Amy grumbled a little in her sleep, and rolled over to face him.
"You're late," she commented sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Raymond apologized sincerely. "I stayed back so I could make some more time,"
Amy was awake now and looking at Raymond with her big green eyes.
"Why?" she enquired, rubbing a spot of grease off of Raymond's face with her thumb.
"Well I want to be able to treat you to something special tomorrow night," he replied.
Amy yawned.
"I can't believe I'm almost 25," she remarked, rolling back over so her back was to Raymond. Raymond pulled her close to him, letting her body heat wash over him.
"Good night Amy," he murmured gently, lips pressing lightly against her ear.
"I love you Ray," she said in a whisper, eyes closed as she slowly descended into sleep.
Raymond rubbed the stopped clock on her arm with his thumb. She had a whole year. A year to spend on bills, food and transport. He knew that sometime the next day she'd be jolted out of whatever she was doing, maybe teaching, maybe on the shuttle home. She'd feel a sudden shock on her arm that would spread to the rest of her body. Maybe she'd fall over, maybe she'd let out a gasp. Whatever did happen he knew that when she would next look at her arm she'd get chills, as she would watch the green numbers slowly ticking down.
But for now she would sleep deeply and soundly. She wouldn't wake every few minutes to check, she wouldn't cry herself to sleep some nights because she didn't have enough time. But that would only be temporary. Raymond knew that in the course of the next day she'd start to never stop checking how much time she had.
Raymond closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep.
Amy had always insisted that being a public servant was one of the most rewarding careers to pursue. Being a teacher was close but not quite that sort of job according to her, and making time holders didn't count.
"It just seems like you make them only for the people who can afford more time," she'd chide as she sat on the couch, marking the tests of the children she'd teach.
"You said being a public servant meant little pay and doing stuff for other people," he responded, laying his head on her lap. "Doesn't my job sound like that?"
She pushed his head off her lap and smiled, continuing to mark, glasses sliding down her nose.
"It's not public service if only the rich benefit," she explained, setting the papers aside.
Raymond leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Well you can be the public servant and I'll bring home the time," he whispered, making sure his breath tickled her neck. He felt blood rush through his veins as she shivered, turning her head towards him. Her lips twitched in anticipation, until Raymond leaned over and connected their lips.
Raymond woke in the morning to the light of his clock. He had less than a day and needed to get to work early if he was going to make enough to get Amy something unbelievably special. Slowly, silently he extricated himself from their intertwined position. Somehow in the middle of the night Amy had rolled over to face him and twined their legs together. Despite the fact that this position sent pleasurable shivers down Raymond's spine, he needed to get to work. And soon.
Overalls and boots on, Raymond leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Amy's forehead, and walked silently out the door.
He started running as soon as he was certain that it wouldn't wake Amy.
He arrived at work earlier than he'd anticipated, and had to wait for the on-site manager to arrive.
"You're here early today Leon," he commented, unlocking the building.
"It's my girlfriend's birthday, and I need enough time to get her something special," he replied, walking in after him.
"Well you'd better get to work then," the manager said kindly, unlocking the door to the production area.
Raymond thanked him, and made his way to his area, where he began pulling levers almost immediately. The others began filtering in an hour later, and soon the sound of clanking and groaning was filling the room.
"Oi Leon!" Bedat called from the station beside him. "Why were you here so early?"
"It's Amy's birthday, I wanted enough time to treat her," he replied, shouting over the sound of mechanical noises.
A whistle sounded the end of the day, and eventually all of the machines came to a stop.
"Well here," Bedat said, taking Raymond's hand. Raymond watched as 30 minutes were added to his clock.
"Now you can get her something even better," he said jovially, patting Raymond on the back.
The rest of his co-workers followed suit. All of them grabbed his hand on the way out. Some gave a couple of minutes, others an hour. In the end Raymond now had an extra day and a half on his clock.
Raymond thanked each and every one of them profusely.
When he clicked out the manager grabbed his hand as well, and gave Raymond a whole day.
"I can't accept this," he said, trying to give the man back his time.
"Leon, we all know that girl. Some of us have kids who she tries to teach. Take it," he said kindly. "Get her something she deserves,"
Raymond now had 3 and half days on his clock.
1 for dinner and 1 one for a gift.
Raymond could hardly contain his happiness as he ran towards town.