Page 11 of Blushing Bride

“The wolves. Once mostly wild creatures, they’re more domesticated than people realize. Once, I was invited to be a handler for one of the females in the pack.”

“Did she have a name?” he asked.

“Mishka,” I grinned.

“You should introduce me to her one day. I’d love to meet her,” he replied.

“Really? Most people think it’s a lost cause, but the center is simply trying to retain animal life for as long as necessary until they can repopulate the rest of the planet.”

“I don’t think it’s a lost cause. Animal life is important.”

“What’s it like? Outside the border?” I asked.

“Have you never seen any of it?”

“No. Outside travel isn’t really allowed.” I shook my head.

“I forget how different your city state is from mine,” he mused. He looked at the flowers on top of the island, his expression soft and nostalgic. “Some areas are just as you would imagine it would be, devoid of all life, nothing but a dust bowl of radiation and dirt. Some areas are slow to recover, but the signs are there. Fresh shoots of grass breaking through the earth, a colorful weed here and there, the first hints at tree life growing once more. Other places have rebounded, lush and fertile from volcanic ash and fire, untouched from humans in hundreds of years. Pure wild nature,” he continued.

I swallowed a mouthful of wine, enjoying the way the honeyed cheese brought out the blackberry undertones of the red wine and for some reason, it made me feel braver.

“You mentioned how very different your home is than mine. Is it as old world as they say it is?” I pressed.

“Old world,” he echoed. He lifted a brow, studying me for some hint as to my intent. I turned my gaze down, picking at the food that lay before me. I settled on a dried date, dipping it in a little bit of jam before I popped it into my mouth.

“Yeah. You know, marriage and families and pregnancies outside of labs.” I flushed.

“I see. You’re curious about all of that, aren’t you?” he asked.

For some reason, the way he said it felt like I was asking for something I shouldn’t.

“I am,” I admitted. I kept my eyes downcast, choosing instead to swirl the wine around in my glass. It was a thicker red wine and the liquid dripped down the sides slowly, indicative of a higher alcohol content.

I probably should have looked at the bottle before deciding on this one. I hoped it wasn’t going to my head already.

“Unlike New Englandia who prides their people on work productivity and physical health, Pacifica places a much higher regard on the human experience and that includes interpersonal relationships like family,” he explained.

I took another sip of wine before placing it down on the table. I bit the inside of my cheek as I pushed it away slightly, choosing to eat a little bit more instead.

Family.

It was a fascinating, but wholly forbidden subject. I had never been able to fully study it or even grasp at its true meaning. Books and pictures only scratched at the surface of it, but this man had experienced it.

“Do you remember your mother and father?” I asked.

I didn’t have either. I’d been created in an artificial womb and brought up by the state in their specialized institutions for the rearing of children. I’d been given the best teachers, the best medical care, and everything I could have ever needed as a child.

Except for a family.

My teachers were the only people that could come close to such a thing, but it wasn’t the same.

“I do. They are still alive and back home today. My mother is probably chasing my father around the house with her mile-long to-do list as we speak,” he grinned.

“Were they… married?” I asked, lowering my voice in the end in case anyone might be passing by and could hear me.

“Yes. They are most certainly married. I’ve heard the story of their whirlwind romance so many times that I could probably recite it in my sleep,” he laughed, deeply amused. There was so much joy written all over his features when he talked about his parents. It felt almost contagious in a way.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I asked, blushing. As soon as I said the words, I wanted to take them back, but it was already too late.

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