Nothing had changed down at the docks. Some people wandered listlessy, while others rushed by, eager to find a place to sleep before the Citadel's night cycle could go into full effect. They were in groups and they wandered alone. A lot of them looked like they were in mourning.

I was the same, too. My hair was styled in the same ponytail I'd been putting it in since forever. My nails were still glossy and red, not even beginning to chip yet. I had a granola bar clenched in my hand, and I'm pretty sure that my colony had grown the ingredients for the company before the war. I wondered briefly where they were getting them now. Nothing visible had changed. I wished it had.

Everything was the same, but it was all different, too. Like looking at the sky from under water.

Someone sat down next to me on the bench, armor clanking slightly. I turned my head to see Dellix watching the crowds like I had been doing a second before. The difference between us was that if he saw something wrong with this strange new version of reality, he could fix it.

"Hey there," he said.

"Hey..."

"Looking mighty low today. Anyone been bothering you?" he asked.

"No," I said, "it's not that. I'm fine." He had enough to worry about.

"Ah. I see. So, um... any news?" he winced.

I swallowed back a lump building in my throat, managing to sound normal when I answered, "No. They just- Their shuttle must be real slow, that's all." I took a breath, "Do you think they're okay? They promised me they'd come and get me, no matter what they had to do. But it's been so long."

"I don't know, kid. I'm sure they'd be happy knowing you're safe."

The tears were getting harder to fight. "It's just, I miss them. I miss them so much." I took a few more deep breaths. I needed to tell someone. "I saw a woman today. From behind. I thought she was my mom. She wasn't, but, Dellix, for a second I thought she was, and I realized that before that moment I thought my mom was dead. I was shocked when I thought I saw her."

It had only been a week and I'd already given up on them! Angry tears welled up then, and I rubbed them away with the heels of my palms. I had no reason to cry yet. They weren't dead.

He said nothing, watching me get control of myself out of the corner of his eye. I wondered if tears were as foreign to him as nail polish.

He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words carefully, "I can't pretend to know what you're going through, but, for what it's worth, I'm sorry Ally."

"Thanks."

"Come on. You should get some sleep. I'm sure Morlia's gonna start worrying about you soon."

I laughed softly, "Not that she'll show it."

When I got to the sleeping bag I slipped inside quick, offering my "roommate" a quick good night before drifting off from a surprising bout of exhaustion. I could hear my two favorite aliens murmuring in the background right up until the point where I drifted off.


Author's notes: I'm working on the whole longer chapters thing. I'll get the hang of it eventually, I swear.

P.S. My story's traffic stats have been malfunctioning lately. Does anyone here know who I could contact about that?