Beautiful Minds

Morning Light

Azlin offered for me to sleep at her dorm for the time being. I felt grateful for her generosity, yet guilty, knowing how she probably valued her privacy and her moments to rest. She softly opened the door to her dorm, checking up on her roommate, who seemed to be asleep in her bed. I stood in the doorway as she walked over to her bed. "Nia? Sorry to wake you, but I had to let you know that my friend, Marley, is staying over in our room. It's an emergency." She said. "Yeah, no problem." The girl said sleepily and turned to face the wall. Azlin turned on the small lamp on her night stand. I now slowly entered the room. Azlin's side was incredibly tidy, it surprised me how little stuff she possessed. Nia's side was a lot more messy. What stood out was their balcony, with two beautiful doors dividing it from the room. Dakota and I didn't have one. "I don't really have spare mattress I'm afraid, but I do have these pillows." Azlin observed me checking out her stuff, fidgeting with her thumb a bit nervously. "You should take a shower, or you'll get sick. You can go first." She suggested. Due to everything that happened, I had almost forgotten that we were both soaking wet from the rain. I nodded.

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I lay myself down on the big pillows Azlin had placed on the floor for me. It wasn't very comfortable, I must admit, but I was already happy with having a place to crash. Azlin prepared her MP4-player, placing her white earplugs in one ear, and then made herself comfortable as well. "I can't believe your vision came true after all. I mean didn't you say no to it?" I whispered. "Sometimes slightly altered outcomes happen. You weren't pushed, you got up there yourself." Azlin explained. "Would that mean that Dakota did plan to push me?" I thought out loud. "Or someone else. But yes." Azlin sighed, rubbing her eyes. I frowned. The thought that the plan of having me killed was still continuing scared me. While we caught Dakota, who knows how many people are in on this. And how many would be threatened to help just like her? "We have to figure out who those two boys were that fought at the camp. One of them seemed to actually agree with the person who wants me dead." I concluded. Azlin nodded.

 "Azlin?" I half-whispered. She turned her head to the side, looking at my blankets. "I wanted to thank you. For your generosity and your support... but mostly for saving my life. I don't know how to make it up to you." I spoke. During my shower I had realized that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Azlin pulling me from the bridge. Azlin was quiet for a moment. "You don't have to make up for anything." She said. "No, really, if I can ever do something for you, please let me know. Something to make you happy, or something, you know." I stumbled over my words. I really felt like I was in her debt for all she had done for me, even though we had such a rocky start. She thought about what I said. "You're already doing it." She replied. "I am?" "I've... never had a friend before." She confessed. I looked up surprised at her. "You didn't have friends at home?" She was silent, and looked back up the ceiling again. She exhaled, a bit stressed. Did I say something wrong? "I'm sorry." I said guiltily. She shook her head. It wasn't that. "I just don't know if I can tell you. But I've been wanting to." She thought out loud. "You don't have to if you're not ready." I said. She now turned her body to face me.

"I never had a home. I... grew up at this program. A program for people like me. Like us. They tried to get to the bottom of my visions, and how I was able to choose the future. It was run by the government or something." Her eyes were on my blanket again as she spoke. It was visibly hard for her to tell me. "The program was shut down. Probably because I wasn't treated well. That's why I'm an exception here. I have no where else to go." I let her words sink in. I couldn't possibly imagine what she must've been through. "Your parents?" I looked at her. Something in her face shifted. Even though she always showed lack of emotion, her stress was replaced by a thin line of tears filling her eyes. But her lips were sealed. It was too hard. 

I thought for a moment, but then lifted my hand up to her. I held it near hers. She looked at it for a while. She then lifted her shaking hand and placed it in mine. There was so much emotion that I could hardly stand it. I breathed in and out deeply, feeling the tears roll down my temples. Her teary eyes pointed at my mouth, surprised by how much it affected me. I could feel the pain in her chest. Her sadness was so deep, it was shocking how little of it she showed. I could never. She felt abandoned. She probably was. Abandoned by the people who were supposed to raise her and love her. She didn't have to answer my question anymore, I knew enough. I slowly placed my other hand over the back of hers. "Thank you for telling me." I said with a weak voice. A new emotion of relief slowly covered her sorrow.