"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" A scream rang out of Sunny Moon Complex. The early morning sun reached its peak. Birds flew everywhere from the sheer fright. Lydia was making a frantic attempt to get ready for work as she ran around the apartment. She got on her plaid skirt and white adjusted her round glasses in front of the mirror. "I'm going to be late! I'm going to be late!" Her hands tried to tie braids in her dark hair while trying to hide the silver grey that peeks out as she allowed the strap of her purse to slide down her arm to touch her shoulder. Her feet slipped on her black flats. She grabbed a piece of bread and went out the door. Lydia went back briefly to lock it.

Lydia managed to jump over her landlady, Mrs. Hinera, since she didn't have a whole lot of time to talk. She was nearly down the stairs when she slipped on a puddle from last night's rainstorm. The twenty-year-old tumbled down and landed on her butt. She sighed. "At least I didn't land on my head and finished what I was eating." Lydia gripped her stomach. "I just hope it doesn't give me trouble." She got up again as she continued to run. Her legs stung from the impact of the fall. Down the four blocks of her city, Speedtail, Lydia kept found herself able to move faster and faster with each step.

Before long, she arrived at her workplace. Only by five minutes. A facility that translated books, letters, and sometimes media in order for one country to understand the language of another. Her body heated up and she settled into her small cubby. She took a swig of water before she got through her work. Lydia's computer was a simple one from earlier times before the space expansion. Her grey eyes flipping to and from the screen as each word was typed away. Her nimble fingers made the keys clatter.

Pages and pages were piling. Each one organized for the latest modification. Around 10 A.M., Lydia nearly jumped out of her seat when she heard her boss shouting. "Lydia! In my office! Now!" Mr. Cam always went after Lydia constantly. His shout was later followed by a few snickers from her coworkers.

"Coming sir." Lydia gathered all her things that were due today. She straightened the papers. Just as she walked out, she tripped by a stray leg from one of her coworkers. Her paper scattered. They laughed. She only laughed back. "Sorry. Got too much stuff to do. Just glad no one is hurt." She sighed. "I gotta stop falling for that," She mumbled. Lydia got up and continued to the office. Lydia was used to that sort of treatment all her life. Since she was in preschool.

Once she got there, Lydia was met with a heavy cologne. She tried her best not to crinkle her nose but she hated that smell with a passion. It would sometimes remind her of her time in a dark room surrounded by laughing men. She took a deep breath. Her arms vibrated. Lydia walked slowly toward her boss. It was a standard executive office. Firm leather chairs, an oaken desk. It somehow gave a cold air that was produced by a man with short, dark hair. Black eyes focused on her. A mouth mashed into a hard line. Lydia swallowed hard. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

Mr. Cam took a deep breath. "Lydia, did you finish the translations for our orders in Africa? As well as that essay we need for Russia?"

Lydia nodded. "Just finished for the Russians. As for the textbooks, I'm halfway done. Bear in mind that each country in Africa has its own language from each tribe. Zulu, Nigerian...Just a few more hours and I should have it ready."

Mr. Cam lifted a piece of paper. It was written in a language that wasn't from Earth. "Would you like to explain what this is?"

Lydia laughed nervously. She fiddled with her glasses. "Just a small side project. It's Nourasion. There was some footage from a news article about one member of military that came across it when they were coming down from symbols are really-"

"I don't care!" The muscle under his skin rippled. It should be said that he was tough despite being a forty-year-old man. "That's the fourth time this week you've been doing these silly projects! They are making your productions slower than normal!"

"But sir, I've checked my work and I turn them in on time."

"These stupid language studies you pull are extremely distracting. The last thing we need is to speak some weird nonsense. Especially from the enemy. You're fired!"

Lydia felt her heart stop. Everything else just flickered. She did all she could not to cry. Her voice went dead. She simply bowed, handed the papers and walked back to her desk. She pulled out her box and began to gather all her things. Fortunately, she didn't have too much she needed to clean out. The laughter and smirks plagued her as she walked out of the building. It felt like hours until she finally reached her apartment. Lydia shut the door. Taking a moment to block out the outside world. Tears welled in her eyes. She leaned against the door and slid down to the floor.

"I didn't mean to be careless." Lydia spoke. She had only done it on her small window of freetime and at home. Work had been her priority. Lydia looked up at the greasy ceiling. Grey wallpaper matching her mood. She curled up into a ball. "What am I going to tell mom?"

-(a few hours later, Neyino Hospital)-

Lydia found each step agonizing as she went through the bright white halls of the hospital. She didn't want to tell her mother the bad news. She didn't want to let the warm woman who raised her see a disheartened shriveled form. Lydia took a deep breath. She wiped her tears. It didn't take long to find room 304. Her head poked through the doorway to see her mother in the same state she would always see her.

A woman in her 50's sat up in her bed. Long black hair with gray highlights spread out. She had glasses like Lydia's and sat on her face gently. Her brown eyes staring off into a distant memory. However, they also had a bit of a dull appearance that told of an invisible struggle. Skin was white as snow. Her frame was frail and weak, yet it was enough to hold her up. She, Umbra Lin, turned her head to face Lydia. A warm smile on her face. "Hello Lydia. What happened at work?"

Lydia froze. Her braids started to hurt her head. "W-what are you talking about? Everything's fine." She began to fiddle with her glasses.

Umbra sighed. "I saw you arriving at the hospital this morning looking down. You were walking slower." She pointed at Lydia's glasses. "Plus you mess with your glasses when you're scared to talk about something."

Lydia sighed. Her mother was a smart woman. She gulped hard. "I...I was fired today. I just didn't want to tell you in the state that you're in."

Umbra looked at her. "What were you fired for?"

"I was studying an alien language in my freetime. Just some Nourasian writing that someone found in space." She raised her arms up in defense. "I made sure to balance out my work, I swear!" Lydia lowered her head as she gazed at the floor.

Umbra raised her arms. A few IV tubes attached to her arms. Her smile was weary and sad. "Come here."

Lydia obeyed. She grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. Finally overwhelmed with sadness, Lydia collapsed into her mother's lap crying. "I'm so sorry! I try so hard! I- I just wish I was normal…"

Umbra sighed. She stroked the braided hair. "Don't blame yourself, my little vixen. I know you've loved aliens from the moment you met Mercu. You just want to understand others better." Her face turned into a hard frown. "I'm just sorry that they treated you like that. I really do wish there was someone out there who would appreciate you. You know I need to show you something." She pulled a box that rumbled as she moved it.

Lydia sat up and began to blow her nose. She wiped her glasses since they got foggy from her tears. When she placed them back on, she gasped. "Is that…"

Umbra nodded. "I kept them with me just in case you ever came across this problem." She looked down at it briefly. "Just carry these with you. Also, I think you're old enough to carve them. Do you remember what Mercu said to you?"

Lydia nodded. "Yeah. Just carve whatever comes to my mind and hold it there." She beamed at that memory. The silver fur that wrapped her in safety. Warm blue eyes. A smile confident of a future. Suddenly, a flash of black fur and teeth made her shake. Lydia shook her head. "Sorry. I just had a flashback to…"

Umbra raised a hand to stop her. She took Lydia's hand. "Be brave Lydia. You have a special heart. I'm sure someone will appreciate your skills." Her whole body started to shake. Non-stop coughing broke out. She collapsed onto the bed. Her abdomen rises and falls with effort. Sweat broke out on her forehead. The heartrate monitor beeped wildly.

"Mom!" Lydia screamed. She ran out the door. "Help! Someone help! Please! My mom's in trouble."

It didn't take long for the doctors and nurses to come to their room. One nurse pulled Lydia away. A drone of shouts flooded the room. They all rolled Umbra out of the room. Almost running at full speed. The nurse holding Lydia lost her grip as Lydia broke free and ran after her mother.

"Mom!" Lydia slipped on the floor. Her face made a hard impact on the hard tiles. She looked up. Her leg stung. She tried to reach out. "MOOOOOM!"

-(SunMoon Complex, Evening)-

Lydia's voice was raw. She rubbed her throat as she finally reached the entrance of the apartments. Her swollen, red eyes could barely make out the lights that are still on in the cramped rooms. The news of her mother in critical condition with an uncertain outcome destroyed her. She had to be sedated in order to calm down. It lasted for four hours until she was giving permission to go home.

Just as she reached the floor of her apartment, Lydia stared in horror. Her LandLady was standing outside with a few boxes packed. She ran over to her. "Miss Alben! What are you doing?!"

Miss Alben, a woman half her size, turned to look at her. Her dark eyes cold and judgemental. "You're behind your rent! For four whole months!" She raised her cane at Lydia and smacked her with it. "It's time for you to leave!"

"B-but I paid for the rent this week!"

"You forgot to include the payments of the pots you broke when you ran."

"The recent ones...I'm sorry about that. I was trying hard-" She was hit again.

"No more talk! Leave!"

Lydia felt numb. Like a robot, she lifted her boxes up and simply walked on. She kept walking and walking until she found herself in the local park. Not many dangers happen there at night. Her grey eyes stared above the glasses. The stars and moon looked peaceful in the dark blue sky. A stray tear ran down her cheek. Soon followed by another. Lydia lowered her head. Her heart ached. Anger, sorrow and frustration rippling through her body. She took in a deep breath. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Her screams and howls could be barely heard by anyone. At that point, there was nothing to care about. Her life was over.

I promise the next chapter won't be as heartbreaking. Also, Eva Wei will come soon enough. I do like the name Lydia. Please review!