31 Days of Sonic Prompt 23: Space.
Our Sunrise
The air aboard was just below room temperature, but to Maria, it was always too cold. A persistent chill followed Maria. If she tucked herself in bed, she'd shiver until the blankets warmed her. Walking through a hallway was like a breeze blowing on her neck. Even if she threw on a sweater or wore an extra pair of socks, Maria felt like the blood in her veins turned to ice.
On Earth, the sun warmed the ground. Maria wanted to feel it on her skin. Lying on a beach towel, soaking up its rays, she yearned to bask in its heat. Every other child her age could.
But aboard the ARK, where she stewed in her illness, she was left to wonder. Her grandfather had tried to make room for heating lamps and artificial lights, but as much as she appreciated his efforts, it wasn't enough. She lingered in her fantasies of exploring a desert, watching lizards skittering across the dunes while the sun beat down on her, sweat trickling off the tip of her nose. She dreamt of swimming in tepid, crystal clear waters where fish tickled her toes as she dove deeper around colorful coral. And in her imagination, Maria saw herself racing through a field of flowers, their petals and seeds scattering in the wind, a kaleidoscope of beauty.
"Maria?"
She blinked, shaken out of her thoughts. Maria was sitting by the main pane that gave a view of the blue marble planet below them. She looked over her shoulder, hardly surprised to find Shadow approaching her.
"I was calling out to you, but you didn't respond," he said, coming to her side. He glanced at the doors as they slid shut. "Is everything alright? How were your tests?"
She smiled, her chapped lips spread thin. "Oh, I'm sorry, Shadow. They were fine. Grandfather hasn't found any improvement to my condition, but I'm doing alright."
Shadow's brows furrowed. He faced the inky ocean of outer space, and Maria followed his gaze. Countless stars blinked in the endless depths. Wherever Maria looked, ten more stars replaced the last one that vanished. Satellites circled Earth, and meteors rotated, entranced by the planet's gravitational pull.
The sun was a scarlet sliver peeking out above Earth. It brilliantly burned with the fury of a forest fire. The arch was a hue unlike the sterile grays, whites, and blues aboard the ARK, and she thought it would have made for a stunning color in a painter's palette.
Shadow rested his palms against the pane. "It's rather cold in here," he stated, and Maria let herself sigh.
She couldn't hide anything from him. It never crossed her mind, for she always wanted to be with him. He was her closest friend, and Maria confided in Shadow whenever she could. Whether she was complaining about her injections, a load of homework given to them by their tutor, or reveling in their shared dream of exploring Earth, Maria told Shadow everything, and he always listened.
"There isn't any natural sunlight here, Shadow," Maria said, dipping her chin to her chest. "I remember when I felt the rays. It made my skin glow, and I felt so wonderfully warm." She rubbed her arms, noticing the blue veins in her pale, bony fingers. She tucked her hands into fists and hid them in the folds of her skirt. "But it's been a long time. Grandfather has been trying to provide me with proper substitutes for sunlight, but I can't just forget feeling the real thing."
She hoped she hadn't sounded selfish. Her complaints, in her mind, were like the grumblings of a spoiled child who lacked awareness. Her grandfather and his team of researchers were diligently seeking a cure for her disease. They were also looking to protect the planet with Shadow, even if he tended to skip around the extensive details about Shadow's creation when they were present. She was more than grateful to the scientists aboard the ARK for doing everything in their power to keep her alive, and Maria, despite longing for the world beyond her grasp, loved her interstellar family.
Shadow turned toward her, keeping one hand on the pane. Reaching into his quills with his free hand, he retrieved the crimson Chaos Emerald. Maria's eyes glimmered in the gem's facets, her visage one of pure awe, and Shadow placed it in her lap.
"Perhaps I can tap into the power of the Chaos Emerald to help you. The professor and I have been experimenting with teleportation, so I find it possible that I can tap into its energy for warmth," he offered, meeting her curious gaze. "Would you like me to try?"
Without a second to spare, Maria's head bobbed up and down. Her blonde curls jostled with every nod. She shared a grin with Shadow, who chuckled at her enthusiasm.
Shadow set her hands around the emerald's base. He rested the top of his right hand over it, digging in his fingers so hard that Maria feared he'd crack it. He took a calming breath, readying himself for the challenge. Maria watched his arm quiver, his eyes squeezing shut. For a moment, she feared he'd harm himself, but he suddenly grunted, his hand lifting off the Chaos Emerald as if he had touched a hot stove.
It was so shocking that Maria gasped. The gem sparked with a scarlet light, and heat blossomed against her belly. It spread across her body to her shoulders, down her limbs, and reached her fingers and toes. It was like being enveloped in a soothing solar flare, her cheeks flushing a soft pink, and she broke into a wide, toothy grin.
Pulling back, Shadow flexed his fingers, seemingly stunned. He quickly regained his composure, asking, "How do you feel?"
"Warm," was all Maria breathed out.
Shadow took a moment to react. It was like he let the word settle in his head before returning her smile. He held the emerald with her, sharing its warmth as the sun slowly rose above the planet's horizon, and Maria felt truly alive.
