Page 8 of Between Earth and Eternity
I spend most of the day reading, lounging in laziness and content, and soon, the day has drifted into the afternoon.
I finish getting ready for the evening’s events, taking a little more time than usual with a quick swipe of mascara, something I save for special occasions because a new tube isn’t worth the cost. I let my hair down in loose waves, wearing a dark blue shirt and jeans. The doorbell rings, followed by my dad’s and Elliot’s voices drifting upstairs. After one final look in the mirror, I rush downstairs to find that my mom hung streamers and balloons throughout the kitchen and living room.
“Happy birthday!” Elliot exclaims, squashing me into a tight hug and lifting me off the ground for a couple of seconds.
“Thank you!” I grit out through crushed lungs. I pull away and spy a small box in his hands.
“El. I said no gifts.”
He only smiles his biggest, brightest smile and hands it to me.
My parents and Gran already gave me a gift earlier. They went in on a vintage jean jacket that is the perfect light blue shade and oversized fit. That alone was extravagant enough, and even for Elliot, this is unexpected.
I begrudgingly open the box to find a bracelet with a small heart charm with the wordfriendsengraved on it in swirly text. I look up just as Elliot shows me his wrist, where an identical bracelet sits with charm that readsbest. I cover my mouth, laughing along with El, who is incredibly pleased with himself.
“What is it?” my mom asks, making her way to us from the kitchen. We hold out our wrists, and her face scrunches in confusion. The bracelet barely fits around El’s wrist, digging into his skin. “Aren’t those intended for ten-year-old girls?”
“Mom. Of course they are. That’s what makes it even better.”
She shakes her head. “You two are so weird,” she says, disappearing into the kitchen once more.
“I agree,” Dad adds, leaning in to look at the charms.
“They’ve been that way since they were littles.” A soft voice comes from the hallway. Gran shuffles into the living room, leaning on her cane as she beams at both of us.
“Hey, Gran.” Elliot grins, wrapping her in a gentle hug, careful of her fragile frame. I’ve always loved that he calls her Gran. I remember when he first did it like it was yesterday. He didn’t grow up with grandparents of his own. We had been outside all day in the hot sun, and Gran gave us popsicles on the porch. His little voice said,“Thank you, Gran,”and she didn’t bat an eye, planting a kiss on his head and anointing him as her unofficial grandson.
“Who else is coming tonight?” Dad asks, continuing to help Mom with preparations.
“The usual gang. The Campbells, the Hamptons, and Rebecca, of course,” Mom replies, pulling a pizza from the oven. “They should be here any minute.”
I help Gran into her chair in the front room while the rest of us get out plates. Before long, a soft knock comes at the front door, and Elliot’s mother slips inside. Rebecca is a short woman with golden blonde hair like her son, but unlike El’s outgoing personality, Rebecca is much more reserved. My mom says she wasn’t always that way. She was once the woman with a loud, infectious laugh that could be heard a whole room away. I was too young to remember her then, before Elliot’s father died.
Their family has lived on this street for nearly as long as mine. She and Elliot’s father inherited the house when her parents passed away a couple of years after El was born. We all bear the stain of tragedy in one way or another, and Henry’s death was a sacrifice that is respected by many. Henry was part of the very early expeditions in the search for an inhabitable new world. The event leading to his and the rest of his crew’s deaths remains a mystery, but before their demise, they helped map out particular quadrants of space that eventually led to the discovery of Eden. For several years, Rebecca made petitions with Mannox Industries to get free passage on Zenith’s maiden voyage for families of the fallen crew, but her requests continue to be denied. Just another item on the long list of my disgust with anything associated with the Mannox name.
“Hi, Bec. Thanks for coming.” I kiss her on the cheek as she offers me a warm smile.
“Happy Birthday, Sky. Did Elliot give you his gift already? He’s been dying to show you for weeks.”
I raise my wrist, jiggling it for effect.
“Mom’s connections hooked me up big time.” He gives his mother a wink in appreciation.
“More like they were about to go into the trash bin, but I saved them.” She nudges him with her elbow.
“Well, I’m so glad you did,” I say. “We’ve always been grateful for your work in the Archives division.”
Her job is also in archiving at E.P.S, but she analyzes everything besides the musical media. Some of the items processed though her department have been famed pieces of art or ancient relics from museums, but since so much—sometimes entire entities, states, and cities—was washed away in the flooding, items that were once a dime a dozen have become rarer with each passing year. For a long time, scavenging was a popular way to make an income or to barter and trade, but it hassince become obsolete. At first, Archiving was an extremely large division, but as the days near the first Zenith launch, the work has slowed.
Dad calls for Rebecca to join them in the kitchen, and soon, the Campbells and the Hamptons arrive—Keith and Tora Campbell with their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter Lily, who is a couple of years younger than El and I, and the Hamptons, our next door neighbors. My dad grew up with their two boys, who both worked as engineers on Zenith and have now moved on to off-planet assignments.
The happy chatter and laughter fills every nook and cranny of our home, and I adore each and every person in the room. It would be the perfect night if we didn’t have to tune in to the Lottery in a few hours.
“Dinner is ready!” Dad announces.
We gather together to enjoy the simple but delicious meal. It’s true what Elliot said: we need to make the most of the time we have. It’s not blissful ignorance but rather knowing that love is going to get us through the inevitable.
There are few things in life that are sure, and family and friendship are definitely high on the list. Things are going to get bad, but I keep my promise to myself. I won’t go there tonight.
