The Other Side of the Dome

Chapter 14

"Excuse me?" Koda looked shocked as he slung his bag onto his shoulder. He pushes a stray strand of hair behind his ear before grabbing my hand.

"I want to stay out here. With you." I repeat. We were standing on the bunker's far side, away from everyone else. I had my voice low as I spoke.

"Why?" He seemed unsure. "Not that I don't want you to, but why?

I looked at our hands cradled together. A deep sad sigh came from deep within my diaphragm. I mulled over all the reasons I'd conjured before saying, "I feel I have a greater purpose out here than I do..." I waved my hand around, "...in there."

"Aren't you going to miss your friends? Your family?"

"The only friend I have is Hanna. Yes, I'll miss her, but I need this. She'll be fine. As for family..." I trailed off as a lump formed in my throat. I managed to choke it down, but there was still a squeak in my voice when I spoke again. "I don't have any family left."

He looked over my shoulder, "Do they know?"

I followed his gaze to Ben, Hanna, and Lyle, watching us intently. Hanna gave me a small sad smile when we made eye contact. I turned back to Koda, "Hanna knows."

He thought for a moment, "Are you sure about this?"

I gave him a confident nod, "I want to train alongside your doctor."

"That would be a great place for you." He squeezed my hand tighter and kissed along my knuckles. A bolt of lightning ran up my arm into my chest. I felt giddy and ready; yet, nervous and scared at the same time.

I was scared to leave Hanna behind, I was afraid to live in an unknown world with people that I'd only known for a few days. At the same time, it felt right. It felt like everything in my life led up to this moment. I felt like this was what I was meant to do.

I'd gone to medical school because I wanted to help people and felt I could help people more in the Outerland than in the domes. There were plenty of doctors in the domes but at Fort Larson, there was only one, and she was getting up there in age. She was always in demand and had no time to teach or train anyone past the basics of nursing. I could teach and help. It was what I wanted to do.

I'd explained all of this to Hanna and she seemed excited for me, but I knew she'd be sad to see me go. I would've been sad to let her go, but we both knew it was for the best.

With everything I learned and witnessed over the past week, I knew going back to life in the dome would be impossible. I could never feel fulfilled being locked inside the dome for the rest of my life.

Part of me wanted to return home and pretend this never happened. To go back to my video games and fancy lattes. To power through to monotony of college.

That part of me was small in comparison with the part that wanted to stay. The part that wanted to stay with Koda at Fort Larson. The part that wanted to be free and smell the clean fresh air every morning and feel the grass under my toes. To be able to look up at the stars every night and kiss in the moonlight. When I thought of these things, my stomach fluttered with excitement.

"Are you ready to go?" Koda's voice pulled me from my thoughts. My hand was still in his and I pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you for everything," I whispered.

He kissed my temple before releasing me.

It was a two-hour hike to the dome perimeter. Not much conversation passed between the group as we walked. Hanna walked by my side, holding my hand while Ben and Lyle, walked close behind us.

The dome stood over us, thousands of feet high, the top obscured by the clouds. We were about a mile from the chain-link fence that grants access to the inner perimeter.

"This is where I leave you," Koda announced. He pointed forward. "Thirty minutes that way is the guard station."

"I can not tell you how thankful we all are for you," Ben said to Koda. "We would be here without you."

"You're probably right," Koda joked and they all laughed.

"Let's get going," Ben said turning to walk off.

Lyle and Hanna followed. When Ben noticed I wasn't following her turned, "Sadie?"

I gave him a small smile, "I-I'm staying."

"You're what?" Ben asked, doubling back to me.

"I'm going to stay out here with Koda," I repeated. A strange sense of deja vu flashed through me.

"You can't be serious," Ben practically shouted. "You want to stay out here? With him? What about... what about us?"

"There is no us Ben. There never was."

"That's not true, Sadie."

"Ben listen," I said softly. "You must know, deep down, that you and I were never going to work. Your entire life depends on the choices you make. I am not the right choice. I will never be the right choice. Please understand."

Tears started to stream down his face. He stared at me with pleading eye, "But I love—"

"Stop," I interrupted. "You don't. I promise you, you don't."

He fell to his knees, sobbing. Hanna burst into tears, burying her face in Lyle's shirt. Even Lyle shed a few tears.

I knelt next to Ben and put my hand on his shoulder. His whole body shook and I felt my chest tighten as I spoke. "You will be okay."

I looked at up at Lyle, "Take care of her for me okay?"

He tightened his grip on Hanna and gave me a nod.

Ben stood sniffling, sparing one last glance at Koda, "I'm going to miss you, Sadie."

"Who knows," I mused, maybe we'll see each other again."

He gave me a knowing look, "I doubt it."

Koda and I watched as the trio departed into the distance. A part of me ache, longing to be with them. Another part was excited to start this exciting new chapter in my life.

He took my hand and smiled, "We should go."

"I thought you had business here," I said.

His smile grew, "That can wait for next time. I want to get you home and tell everyone the big news."

"I can't wait to meet your sister," I cheer.

"She's going to love you," he returned.

He pulled me into a kiss, a long powerful kiss that left me feeling weightless. If his arms hadn't been anchored around my waist I would fallen to the ground right then and there. I wanted more of him and couldn't stop myself from pulling at his clothing.

He broke away from me slightly, "Calm down tiger. There will be a patrol coming around soon." He held out his hand to me and I interlaced my finger in his. "Let's go home."