Echoes

Sooner or Later

Hope double-checked the account figures and compared them to her notes. Then she highlighted any extreme jumps, either in income or expenses. Bill expected anything significant to be color-coded--light green for increases less than fifty percent, emerald green above fifty, strawberry red for lesser expenses, and ruby red for anything over a thousand dollars. So Hope began a meticulous search for any data that required a highlight, her eyes threatening to glaze over.

Her cell buzzed with a call from Derrick. She checked the time and picked up the phone. He never calls at work.

Hope glanced at Bill's office. He seemed glued to his screen, reading a case report, perhaps. Or more likely, he snoozed after lunch with his head resting on his palm.

He didn't approve of personal calls at work. She'd learned that lesson her first day, and not from any initial briefing. Maybe I haven't overcome that terrible first impression yet.

She slid her finger across the screen and answered in a whisper, "Babe? What's up? Is something wrong?"

Derrick unleashed a stream of profanity at someone on his end, and Hope recoiled from the phone. "Sorry, babe. My 'Vette just got hit by an effing soccer mom's minivan full of her ass-faced hellspawn. I had the right of way, and the stupid c--"

"Whoa!" Hope's eyes went wide at Derrick's explosive anger. "Babe! Listen--take a deep breath, calm down. It's just a car. Are you okay? Are they?"

"Just a car? Are you kidding me? This is next year's model Corvette Z06, fully tricked out--the damn supercharger I had put in is worth more than this bitch, her van and all her kids combined. I dropped six thousand dollars on racing quality parts--"

Hope set the phone down and shook her head to clear the shock. I know he loves his car, but this is ridiculous.

Derrick's muffled voice yelled something unclear, and Hope gingerly held the phone near her ear. "--the hell, Hope," Derrick shouted. "Are you there or not?"

"I'm here. What do you need?"

"Hell, I don't know. A tow truck? A good body shop. Jeezus... this is gonna cost upwards of two grand. Maybe three." Derrick sighed and his voice softened. "My next paycheck isn't for another week. I don't have the money for this..."

Hope leaned over to check on Bill. Her boss remained in the same position from when Hope answered the call. No reason to take chances. She lowered her voice and turned away from Bill's office. "Derrick, do you need money? I've got my travel fund... we could push our trip back a month or two..."

Before the words even left her mouth, Hope felt her spirits sink--as if her breath carried away her passion and excitement and scattered them on the wind.

* * *

Chief Alpha Sevnynate towered over the quivering form of Aitnynedee. Far above, in the darkness of the Hub, the monitors showed the Prime's office and computer screen. Petition deferred by necessity, Aitnynedee dimmed in response to the Prime's offer to assist her boyfriend. Golden light swirled into the air off Aitnynedee's skin.

Sevnynate stretched out a radiant hand and the Inspiration vanished into her fingers. "You can start packing for your trip," Sevnynate said. "The one out to the Plaza with the rest of the rejects and failed dreams."

The Chief reached down and plucked the camera off Aitnynedee's shoulder. Sevnynate held it high, pointed down at her and Aitnynedee. "Pre-vacay selfie," Sevnynate announced with fake cheer and snapped the picture. "You'll want to keep that souvenir to remember what it was like when your dream had a chance."

She hung the camera on Aitnynedee's neck like a lei, then sauntered back toward the dais where the Alphas sat.

Forsephore rushed to Aitnynedee, kneeling beside her in the middle of the chamber, unconcerned with making a spectacle. "I don't think Hope has given up on your ideal, Ait. It's just going to have to wait a bit." She rose and offered Aitnynedee a hand. "Let's get out of here for now."

Aitnynedee nodded and accepted, but the light in her eyes faded and her skin barely glowed. "Someday. It's always going to happen 'someday.' This is just back to normal."

"Hang in there," Forsephore said. "All too often we think doors close and opportunities pass us by. But it's more like we choose to forget they're there--like some dusty closet full of old junk we set aside. Keep pushing for it, Ait. The Prime will find a way to make it happen."

Aitnynedee sniffed and squeezed Foresephore's hand. "Thanks. You're right, I know that. But it's hard to believe sometimes. There's always a bill or emergency, always something unexpected. And the hardest part is how close it came to happening..."

"It's a delay," Forsephore said, "not a denial. Sooner or later, this is going to come together. The important things in life take time and effort to achieve, right?"

They reached the double doors that led toward the Plaza, and Forsephore glanced back at the Alphas seated on the dais in the center of the circular chamber. Sevnynate's narrow eyes watched Forsephore across the room, the scowl on her face clear even at a distance. What is with her complete hatred for me?

"Thanks, 'Phore," Aitnynedee said. "You've been a good friend."

"You're welcome. Be one for me, and remind me later that all this work I'm doing has a chance of succeeding."

"Time and effort, yeah? Sooner or later. You have to believe that."

Forsephore laughed and opened the door for Aitnynedee. "Fair enough. It was a lot easier merely telling you that than having to live it out."