This is Euphoria

-21-

kai

A cherry pin between my fingers, I fiddle with the trinket. Scattered ornaments furnish Athena's humble abode.

As she kneels in front of a large wooden mirror, she tells me of the home she was brought up in. Awfully captivated and eager for a better understanding, I listen to her ramblings.

Quite frankly, her stories were often messy, she'd remember something once we were already off the subject and tell me then. Things that made sense to her didn't make a fair amount of sense aloud, but the sacred bits of knowledge she allowed me to revel in were sufficient.

I glance up from my lap when there's a break in her words. From her reflection, I notice her slightly parted lips. She's very cautiously brushing a dark mascara through her eyelashes.

Last night, like she predicted she would, she fell asleep on the sofa. Once her breath sounds were completely even, I carried her into my room. I left her to the large bed she shared only with herself. I didn't sleep much myself; rather, I laid back in the original spot she dozed off and let my mind whirl. When I decided the sun would wake soon, I changed into weather resilient clothes and left.

I ran for hours. Longer than I normally would. The brisk rain thumping to the ground only encouraged me more. Eventually, after I was soaked head to toe, I stopped by the shop. I went straight into the back, not bothering to check in on anything. I pulled the device from its protective place in my pocket, and carefully began the process. It was a quarter to ten, which by that point I decided I needed to get back, so I left the task for someone to finish.

When I arrived back at my flat, Athena was awake and ready to go. She finally ended offering to grab a taxi, and I gather she realized I don't mind the drive. On our way out of the city, she told me she promised Vera she'd accompany her to a work event.

I'll find something to occupy my time, but until that time I'll spend my time here, or with her.

"We had a garden. My mom use to grow things like tomatoes," she continues.

"Tomatoes?" I muse.

"Yes, tomatoes," she mimics.

"Do you always have to do that?" I groan.

"Always," she giggles.

Her English impersonation is actually right on. However, I'm more fond of her American accent. As a generalization, I loathe them, but her's is soothing more than anything.

"Anyway, I remember she grew sunflowers. They were so tall-" she says, but a faint knock on the door interrupts.

A moderately dress Vera strides in. This is a much different Vera then the one I often drive home because she's not sober enough.

Athena uses her legs to push herself up and skip over to greet Vera.

"Hey. You almost ready?" Vera asks her. She looks tired almost.

"Yeah, I just need to change into something. Is there some sort of dress code?" Athena says.

"No, just look hot. But 'I'm only giving you a sneak peek' hot. It's for work, I can't have my boss fawning over my best friend," she says.

"Got it," she heads towards her wardrobe, shutting the door with her foot. Vera plops down next to me on the couch, allowing her head to fall back.

"You look nice," I tell Vera.

"Thanks, birdie," she pats my cheek.

"Actually, a birdie is typically considered a
woman-" I say.

"Hey! I don't want to hear any of that, under this roof we do not enforce any gender roles!" She lays her head back down, shutting her eyes once more.

"My apologies, how rude of me," I muse. She opens one eye, sits forward, and faces me.

"Are you coming with us?"

"Oh no," I say.

"Oh. Then why are you here?" She bluntly asks.

"I'm not quite sure myself," I say.

"Well since you're already here you should come," she encourages.

"That's really all right-" I start but she ignores my words and runs her fingers through my hair, tousling it. "Oh, okay."

"That's better," she decides. "Actually-"

She undoes the first three buttons of my shirt so that my silver cross hanging from my neck is showing and the tattoos littering my chest are exposed.

"There," she beams, proud of her work.