MARIEL

30~ The One Who Truly Had Her Heart ~

Chicago, IL

February 16th, 2020

The coffee's warmth not only touched Tira's palms, but spread through her body as she watched the ripples in Lake Michigan. It was still dark, but the sun's red tint began to peak from the horizon. She sat alone on the pier's bench, enjoying the simple pleasure of the hazelnut latte in her hands. This morning, she couldn't sleep, and it hadn't taken much self-convincing to get one and sit by the lake.

The wind combed through her long ponytail and the loose strands tickled her face. Considering she couldn't sleep, she'd showered again and finally combed it. The recruits had graduation today, and she refused to make an appearance without making an effort to tame the disheveled dog she felt she'd become in the last 24 hours.

'There's no going back from this.' Thompson's body dropped again, and Tira sat up straight on the bench, crossed her legs again, and took a sip of her coffee. It was the fifth time she'd done this. Thompson's death continued to replay. It would not stop.

Despite her ability to accept unfortunate situations as the simple realities of life, Tira felt worn. Though frustrating, she could handle the physical pain. The consistent blows to her psyche, however, were becoming more and more difficult to ignore. As she stared at the morning peace of Lake Michigan, she realized that, after the loss against Agent Lipovsky, there'd been a subconscious hope that her brief return to Chicago would allow her a moment of tranquility.

Were enhanced agents allowed moments of rest? Was this a weakness? Logically, it made sense. She was, indeed, human like she'd told Thompson on the Ayre Building rooftop.

In her mind, the tape rewinded again. Tira saw him jog backwards, towards the edge. She reached for him. He fell. She nearly fell too.

Tira shifted again and twirled the cup in her hands. She'd admitted her mistake. She'd admitted she was human. Yet, Thompson still jumped. And, she'd been an idiot reaching for him like that. That decision could have killed her, and Thompson wasn't worth dying for.

Tira closed her eyes to reflect.

'You're never going to make it out there with your eyes closed,' Papa had laughed.

She opened them. Sighing softly, Tira watched as the sun's rays began to leak across the sky. It was beautiful. She was lucky to be alive to watch it. She thought of the bodies she stepped over yesterday, and she wondered how many of them hoped to see another sunrise. Had they even stopped in their lives for the simplicity of it? Were they too consumed with social media, politics, or themselves to take a moment to appreciate the tranquility of nature?

Tira tilted her head back to finish the remaining drops of coffee. It didn't matter. They were gone.

A seagull landed on the railing and cocked its head. Tira watched it and tilted hers. "Good morning," she said, softly.

The bird tilted its head again and then fluttered off.

"Good luck," she whispered.

As the sun rose a bit more, Tira checked the time. 06:54 hours. Graduation was at 1200 hours. It would be very small and brief, considering the events of the prior day. Eric was still at the hospital, and her intent was to see him first. He deserved just as much recognition.

Tira stood, and her body protested. Her injuries, from her fights both against Mariel and Agent Lipovsky, felt inflamed. Today, she'd made the conscious decision simply to walk, stretch, and recover. For the first time in her life, it'd been an easy decision to make.