SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 27: Distance

The city appeared grayer than ever. Since the incident at the border, I had been assigned to patrol routes for three days in a row now, far from Heather and the Narval House. It felt odd to me because before the chaos erupted I had barely started to work at the border. So why this sudden change in my assignment? Was it to keep Heather and me separated? My mind couldn't stop pondering these questions every moment, and despite being surrounded by bustling streets, I felt more alone than ever.

I observed the people chatting, shopping, and strolling around. The Reg Society imposed a strict lifestyle, yet it was undeniable that most people managed to carry on and find a semblance of happiness. Or so I thought at the time.

I already knew every corner of that city, all the streets and shops and it was funny to think how profoundly chaotic and unorganized it seemed to me when I came for the first time. I had even gotten lost once. But that was over. Now, the city seemed even smaller to me, and I could perceive every tiny change. In recent days, I noticed that the Techno-humans were more present, and the kids had undergone more visible 'improvement procedures,' as they called it.

I walked into a park, and as I meandered through the pathways, my attention was drawn to a group of kids near the playground. Among them, a girl caught my eye. She was wearing a prosthesis on her neck and was going down a big slide with a wide smile. Nearby, a boy swung from the monkey bars with incredible speed and agility, thanks to the prostheses on both of his arms. It shocked me to realize it didn't affect me at all. I had already gotten used to it, and sometimes I felt more taken aback when I saw regular kids with no prostheses.

As time passed, my days on the other side had become a distant memory—just hazy images straight out of an apocalyptic movie. It was intriguing to think that my parents were once against this living system. I would have given anything to have the chance to chat with them about it, now that I was older. This place certainly wasn't the ideal choice, not the life I would have envisioned for myself. But, strangely enough, it was the only place where human life felt more bearable. Now that I had managed to carve out what I could call life, I came to realize that the alternative of staying outside was downright reckless, especially when considering having kids, just like my parents did. What would they have thought of me? Would they have understood my point, or would they have felt I was betraying them?

But I tried not to overthink it too much and I decided to visit Erik at his apartment. When I got there, he was in the middle of cooking lunch. He opened the door wearing a flowery patterned apron, and the smell that wafted from the kitchen was absolutely tantalizing.

"Hope you're hungry because I miscalculated the quantities, and there's way too much food," Erik said, stirring a red sauce with vegetables on the stove. Another pot sat next to it, and Erik danced between both, adding more spices and stirring again.

"I came at the perfect time. It's like you knew I was going to drop by; I'm really hungry, to be honest," I said, eyeing the food. "This smells delicious, what is it?" I asked curious.

"One of my favorite dishes, an Indian classic - chana masala with rice," he explained proudly.

"Oh wow, I must've forgotten you were a culinary wizard!" I exclaimed, inspecting the pot with wide-eyed enthusiasm.

"Well... on the other side, there wasn't much to cook. I couldn't expand my talent," he said with a grin. I smiled back at him. Being with Erik always made me feel at home. He was the only one who knew both sides of me: the Grace that grew up on the other side and the Grace that had established herself in the Reg Society. Only he was able to see me in full, and that was something truly special.

"By the way, I have some news about the message we sent... Wait here," he said and left for his room. A moment later, he came back with a small device featuring a screen and an antenna.