In All the Other Worlds

What Fine Young Men and Women You are.

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Back on the farm, the light would pour through my bedroom window, reflecting off my mirror and waking me up gracefully. It was peaceful, the little bit of calm I felt only when I forgot who I was for a moment. 

Light doesn't come through the ship windows, but the pitch black is, like the light, a peaceful moment for me. In front of me are people I've spent every moment with for a decade, sound asleep in one (too small) space for one last time before we're forced to face a different reality. 

As I start turning overhead lights on, groans, sighs, and stretching limbs are the only signals they are starting to wake. 

"Turn the lights off," Tasia says, throwing a pillow over her eyes. Kian is not far behind her with the covers, while Ezra and Giada remain close together in the corner. She'd always looked at him like a father figure. Luca's head rests on my shoulder as we all sit silently together. I think we're all playing a game where whoever talks first loses. 

"So, I have a question, Ezra?" Tasia removes the pillow from her eyes only to quickly throw it over Kian's face, much to his dismay. 

"Dude, ouch," He throws it towards the door. 

"Oh, you're fine. Don't be a baby." 

"Whatever. Ask the question, sunshine." 

"Since we were never allowed to go out with you guys on the farm, and rules are different on Wiffryn, can we drink at the welcome back ball you mentioned last night?" 

I laugh with her. The question seems so silly to ask someone only three years older than her, but in our world, three years can mean someone with a lifetime of more responsibility. I think about what Annora said, I'm going to be so drunk no one can tell me a thing... I'm ready to take a page out of her book. 

"That's what you first think of in the morning?" Ezra can't come up with a better answer, or any answer at all, but his smile is as playful as ever. 

 "Technically, we don't know if it's morning; it is pitch black outside," Annora points out the window. Our laughs continue, and the pillow is now thrown towards her. 

"C'mon, you know what I meant, girl" 

"I mean...if Tasia can have some drinks at the ball, I feel like I can too. She's only got a year on me." Kian looks for approval from his King-to-be. 

"Okay, we've got some stuff to do before the ball. It won't be all fun and games when we get back." Normally, I'm the one to bring the mood down. Santi takes the hit for me this time. 

He makes a point that as much as joking about a party after a big sleepover is something we all need, the party will have to wait a few days. 

"We'll talk about it later, Tasia. I love you guys, but please get out so I can change. I'm sure we have people waiting on us," I kiss Luca's head before moving sloppily to my closet to pick up our war uniforms. My family crest stares back at me. Usually, it brings anxiety, but for once, I welcome it to my chest--despite everything, I will be the best strategist the world has seen, and I will prove my parents wrong. Or I could die in another war.