Hey guys! I'm so sorry for not uploading the chapter sooner. I wrote it once and it deleted itself and I didn't have the courage to write it again. But I finally did! Anyways, this chapter is the last 'happy one' before a lot of angst. I don't really like angst, but writing it is quite fun. However, I'm not really sure if it sounds right, if you know what I mean. Anyways, here's the chapter!
Cassie woke up that morning in silence.
She stood up quietly when Anya told her to, put on her clothes and shoes without a word. Anya, surprised by her silence, however did not add a comment, obviously not wanting to relaunch her on one of her long endless tirades which always ended up annoying her.
Cassie spent the day in silence, following Anya around without commenting, lost in thought. Even Lexa seemed surprised to see her silence. For the first few hours, Anya seemed to enjoy the beneficial silence, but as the day wore on she seemed to become more and more perplexed and confused, almost worried.
Cassie didn't speak, but she thought no less.
She remembered her mother.
Her pretty curly-haired mom who had raised her with love. Cassie often considered to have become the young woman she was today because of her mother. Her first word had been 'maman', the second 'Mom'.
Her mother, a little French woman with as much energy and life as a body could contain. She had transmitted her love of languages to Cassie, despite prohibitions and reprimands from her father who complained that he could not understand their conversations. After a while, he ended up forbidding them to express themselves other than in English; Cassie and her mother worked their French in secret.
Cassie remembered the games her mother would organize, the 'make-believe' games. They would become explorers on the Ground, owners of a magical circus, superheroes, and, Cassie's favorite, time travelers. Her mother made up crazy stories with her daughter, imagined objects. Cassie had a collection of invisible toys, which her mother assured her that her father couldn't see. Cassie still hid her see-through toys under her bed, scared he would take them away from her.
Her mother loved the stars, she had taught her the name of each constellation, drawn on a sky map or in the dust. It was a bit complicated, since they lived in the sky, which was therefore completely different than the one drawn on the maps.
Cassie's mom loved to sing, she hummed nonstop when Cassie's dad wasn't around. Cassie accompanied her happily, yet singing very out of tune. Her mother had a soft, fair and clear voice that echoed through the white hallways of their apartments. Over time, her voice grew rarer and rarer, she sang less and less. Cassie had tried singing to cheer her up once, but her mother only slapped her face like she had done something stupid.
Cassie still remembered the long afternoons spent reciting poetry, one after another. As a little girl, Cassie had always been impressed by the memory of her mother, who was able to remember lines and lines of complicated poems. Cassie had quickly followed her lead, trying the best she could to beat her at her own game.
It was her mother who had taught her how to untangle her curly hair, which they shared. She who had taught her never to be ashamed of herself, she who had shown her how to deal with hatred from others.
Cassie wouldn't have been anyone without her. Even though the memory of her mother was tinged with pain, grief and anger, her smile remained the warmest she had ever seen. Cassie didn't blame her. She knew it wasn't her fault, that she never really wanted to. She loved her too much to blame her.
Anya, to whom her silence seemed to worry more and more, turned to her.
"OK, what did you do?"
Cassie looked up in surprise.
"Did you kill someone? I can't promise I won't be mad, but you better have a really good reason for it."
"What- No! I didn't kill anyone! I think… Why do you automatically assume that I killed somebody?"
"You're Natshanagada. You do something crazy every week."
"Is this a compliment? It sounds like a compliment."
"It's not. And answer my question."
Cassie sighed, looking down at her shoes.
"It'smymom'sdeathanniversary."
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
Cassie took a deep breath.
"Today, it's been four years since my mom died."
Anya remained silent for a few seconds.
"Oh."
"Yeah, I always try to spend the day remembering the people that died before me on their death's anniversary. Which is why I'm mostly quiet."
Anya didn't seem to know what to say, so Cassie turned away and went back to her business.
A hand rested on Cassie's shoulder and shook her lightly.
"Skaigada, wake up."
"Whatisit?" Cassie asked in a sleepy voice, opening her eyes painfully.
She was slumped aggainst the bed, not even having bothered to actually lie down. Anya's face was hunched over her, Cassie squinted at her nose.
"Heeeey, wassup dude? Whatcha doin'?"
"Wake up."
"Yeeah, you said that already. What's going on? Did Magnus die? Did Titus finally loose it and fliked off? Did Lexa finally get laid?"
Anya frowned.
"What is wrong with you?"
Cassie gave her a huge smile as she sat up.
"Seriously, what's going on? You look weird."
Anya seemed to refrain herself from smiling.
"I have something for you."
Cassie noticed that she kept her hands behind her back.
"Oh. Uh… That's… Very sweet of you. Did Lexa force you to do this as a punishment?"
Anya rolled her eyes and Cassie tried not to smile. She straightened up a bit more and Anya handed her something, which Cassie shyly took in her hands.
It was a book with a red cover, worn and damaged, but intact. Cassie widened her eyes in surprise, stunned.
"A book! A real book! I've only seen some in pictures!"
Books were digital, on the Ark, for the sake of space and utility. Cassie had always read on a tablet. Even at school, the books were all digital, and Cassie never thought she would see one for real.
"Yeah. Old-world items are circulating in the market, but they're not worth much anymore. Especially the books."
Cassie gave her a delighted smile, Anya seemed to be restraining herself from smiling as well.
"Open it."
Cassie opened the first page, read the title of the book. A collection of poetry. Cassie was speechless, still.
"Oh, Anya!"
She scrolled through the pages, seizing lines and lines of verse, of prose, of words all more delicious and melodious than the last.
"Oh, Anya!"
Cassie couldn't answer anything, just gawking, stunned and amazed. Never in all her life had she thought that she would one day be able to hold such a treasure in her hands. Cassie couldn't believe it.
"Finally," Anya sighed, pretending to be relieved. "You shut up. Better late than never."
Cassie, carried with joy and excitement, jumped up and threw herself into her arms. Anya remained motionless, transformed into a stone statue. Cassie wasn't even sure she was breathing.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm hugging you! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! You're the best, Anya! You're such a good friend! This is the best gift ever!"
Anya didn't move for a few seconds, then patted her awkwardly on the shoulder, as if she had forgotten how to have human contact.
Cassie quickly released her and began to hop across the room, delighted, her book clutched to her chest.