Project 447

The streets

"Rain!" yelled Ms Mynia.

I must've fallen asleep again in class.

"Sorry Ms Mynia. I had a rough night." "Be that as it may, you need to stay awake during school. You don't want to repeat the class again." The class snickered, and I felt my cheeks burn. "It won't happen again," I said, thoroughly embarrassed. "Good," she said before returning to the lesson.
The bell rang and the class flooded into the hallways. I put in my headphones and listened to music while I walked to my bike. I always hated the halls of my school. Kids were loud and obnoxious, and there were always teachers yelling. And worst of all, the halls hadn't been cleaned in years. Finally, I arrived at my bike and mounted it. This was my favorite part of the day. My ride home was the only time I got to be alone. No people, no cameras, no androids. Privacy was a rare thing these days. Plus the way home was pretty. Oak trees, meadows, and a cow enclosure. Then you came to the city, and all that beauty went away. The city was gloomy and monotonous. The Meliacos city hub was massive, yet not a soul dared to linger in its majesty.
I got home at last and went through the door to my small apartment at the edge of town. "Hey, mum. I'm home," I shouted through the hall. No answer. I began down the hall, confused at the lack of response. There was a pregnant silence. Anxiety filled me and I turned the corner into the living room. "Mum?" I beckoned. "Out here, darling!" a voice exclaimed from the lawn. I walked through my living room. Past the table and chairs. Past the pile of trash that's piled up. "WRUFPH!" a second voice barked. "Hey, Gormiana! Did you miss me?" Gormiana was my beloved snake. She had a brainwave translator of my own design. Which is how she made noises unspecific to snakes. She was a holocenic venar snake. A kind of genetically engineered snake made to be smart and a good housepet. They're common pets in the xorminian section of the city. I found him in the rubbish bins of my uncle's neighbor. Some people are so dismissive of life. Uncle lived in the lower xorminian section. He was a council member. The only times I had ever been to the xorminian section were to visit him. They won't let you in for any reason other than business or family visition. "Come on, buddy, let's go see mum," I said whilst running out the door to the back yard.
"Hey, Mum, what's up," I said. "Just planting some new flowers," she answered. "Dalias?" I asked while picking up Gormiana. "Yup. How'd you know?" she replied. I lifted an eyebrow and shot her a look, "Because you've been talking about planting some for weeks." She giggled. "Fair enough. How was school, honey?" A shock flew up my spine. "You fell asleep again, didn't you?" I nodded shamefully. "I told you working that late wouldn't end well." She was right of course. Working late had been taxing, but we needed the cash. Even if mum wouldn't admit it. "Sorry, Mum," I said, giving her a hug, "I'll be in my room if you need me."
With Gormiana wrapped round my arm, I strolled down to my room. It was a small space. Maybe three meters wide. Nevertheless, it was home, and there were worse places to live. Truthfully we were lucky to have a home. My friend Yanna wasn't so fortunate. She lived alone in the lower garbage slums. A disgusting and feral place. It smelled like piss and you wouldn't dare go down there alone. Unless you were Yanna of course. She was fearless, fierce, and no stranger to a street brawl. Even so, she was my best friend and really a big softy. Truth is she'd never hurt a fly unless she absolutely had to. The door to my room was an octagonal panel that you'd push in and then slide to the left. It had a lock but it had been broken since we moved in. Probably not a great sign in hindsight. Within my room was a small bed with just enough room for Gormiana and I as well as a minimalistic desk, a nightstand, a small lamp, and a mess of clothes on the floor.
I plopped my bag down next to my bed and sat down on it. I began petting Gormiana and contemplating my day. Then after, I decided I should probably get a few hours of sleep before going to work. Knowing full well that I was gonna be working late again.

Sorry, Mum.