The State of Euphoria

Chapter 2

Later that night as I lay in my bed I can't help but to think of Castor. The way he goes freely through his day, with a job, with a purpose. But me, well I don't have an assignment yet. I don't have a purpose yet. I start to wonder if I ever will, but I tell myself that the Euphorics will take care of me. They have my whole life.

I sigh and roll over to look out my window. Across the street, the light in Castor's room flicks off and I wonder if he is thinking of me too. I can't explain why, but I miss him. Even if I just saw him a few hours ago, I miss the way he looks, and the way he talks. I don't know what the feeling really is, but something tells me it's wrong so I stop looking at his wondow. Instead I look at the moon as if passes through the sky. The clouds are illuminated by it's beauty and they look haunting in a good way. Tomorrow, the Euphorics say it will rain most of the day, followed by wind in the night. I didn't think it could rain after the day we had. The sun was so warm it was like being in a blanket. The sky was cloudless and there was almost no wind. It seemed artificial, almost too amazing. Too perfect. That's how most days seem though. Especially with Joey and Castor out on the boat when the water is perfect for swimming and the turtles come out and the dolphins play and catch fish.

After a while, I catch myself looking at Castor's window again almost hoping the light will come on and he will come to the window and smile at me, but I know he won't. He is probably already sleeping, already dreaming of what tomorrow will bring. In a few minutes, I am looking at the ceiling and then I close my eyes and wait for Monday to welcome me.

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"What should we do today?" I ask Castor holding my coat closed as we walk under the safety of his umbrella.

"I was thinking the same thing." Castor says. "We won't be seeing Joey today; maybe we could go to The Artifact."

"The Artifact is behind us you know." I point in the opposite direction.

"I suppose we should head that way then." He turns on his heel too quickly for me and I laugh as the rain tickles my cheeks.

"Hey! Don't let me get wet." Castor chuckles as I catch up to him and he returns the umbrella between us.

"Too quick for you?"

"You always are. Your legs are so long."

We walk back through the center of the city and past our homes into The Artifact District. It's a large street full of tall grey buildings. Some are museums, like The Artifact itself, and some are galleries, and places where Adult Euphorics drink expensive wines with their friends. It's the richer part of the city, though there is no part in poverty, it is just full of expensive and also priceless antiques from the world before Euphoria.

We pass The Wine Cellar and turn into the doors of The Artifact.

"Good morning! Monday welcomes you!" The man at the desk says cheerfully.

"Good morning to you too! Monday welcomes you!" Castor replies happily for the both of us.

"Welcome to The Artifact, today we are open until Sundown, and all rooms are open except for The People of Power. Please enjoy your visit and refer to the guide booklet if you have any questions about our pieces."

"Thank you!" I smile and take a guide booklet from the desk. "Where should we start Castor?"

"I was thinking the room with all the old technology. I like that stuff."

I follow him through the museum as we weave in and out of the way of columns and walls bearing things from the Ancient World. He knows where he is going, as we have been here several times before. He stops in front of the entrance to the technology room and begins to read the sign we've read many times before.