Perfect Timing

The End is Just the Beginning.

                                                              

  "I don't get it, why isn't it working grandma?" Sky's shoulders slumped, her brows scrunched in frustration, "I did exactly what you told me to do!"

            Chuckling to herself, Sky's grandmother pinched Sky's cheek and said, "Take a minute to look around" Her wrinkles became exaggerated and her smile widened as she watched Sky fumble with the small replica. She then added, "And dear, remember where you place your parts!" She gestured for Sky to come closer and handed Sky the hovering device.

            "Of course! How had I forgotten?" Sky practically glowed as she eagerly attached the hovering device to the vehicle. For a few long, delightful seconds, Sky looked up and down, side to side with admiration at her hovercar. Even though it was a small replica of her grandmother's famous invention, she couldn't help but feel a boost of confidence. She turned to her grandmother with the world's largest smile plastered on her face, and said, "I did it, Grandma Mary, I did it!" She wrapped her tiny arms around her grandmother's waist. Mary wasted no time in picking Sky up and planting a kiss on Sky's chubby cheek.

            "How old are you, Sky?" Mary asked, giving Sky a proud smile.

            "I am eight in two weeks!" Sky squealed, happy to be reminded of her birthday that was coming up.

            "Sky, you may be the smartest seven-"

            "Eight!" Sky corrected, then gestured for her grandmother to continue. Amusement building in Mary's eyes, she continued, "You may just be the smartest eight year old I have ever known!" Sky grinned, following with the kind words, "I could never be as smart as you." Before Mary could say anything else, Sky leaned into Mary's chest and gave her a hug around her neck.

~~~

            Sky yawned as she awoke, a faint smile lingering on her lips. The warm memory of her grandmother warmed her heart. She blinked a few times, struggling at the difficulty. She realized her eyes were glued by dry tears. Her smile died, just as a piece of her heart did. Pain shot through her chest, spiking her fragile heart. Lifeless, she stood up and attempted to finally make herself a little bit nice to look at. She took out her holographic facial rejuvinizer. She adjusted the settings to light mascara, lightish pink lips and blush surrounding the bottom of her eyes to the top of her cheeks. She placed the hologram up to her face and gazed at her reflection.

When she looked into the mirror, she saw her grandmother in her face. The resemblance that would haunt her. For years she had looked up to her grandmother, stood at her side, always wanted to be with her on the weekends. They had been two peas in a pod, while most people had a best friend who was their same age, Sky's was her Grandma Mary. Feeling her eyes begin to water, Sky took in a deep shaky breath and fought them back. She slowly lifted her gaze back to the mirror, her long caramel colored hair was tangled. Her face looked flawless, thank you grandma, she thought, fighting another stampede of tears. After her grandmother had the breakthrough with the hovercar at age ten she began using her knowledge to create new and improved technology. For the hovercars, she created a hovering device that manipulates the gravitational pull underneath the vehicle. She had practically made everybody say 'Goodbye high gas prices, hello hovercar'. After her breakthrough with the hovercar, she began creating things like the holographic facial rejuvinizer, or the real 3D TV experience by creating a live hologram of the actors that looked so real you'd believe you could touch them. Sky had always asked what her grandmother's secret was, but she would never even give a clue. 

Sky brushed her hair, avoiding her pained expression in her hazel eyes. Once she had it untangled, she stood and walked to a chair with an attachment that resembled a hat. She sat in the cushiony chair and pulled the attachment down over her head. "On" She commanded and within an instant, the attachment began perfecting the perfect ponytail, no bumps, no crookedness, and no hair left behind. Another one of Mary's inventions.

Everywhere Sky looked, her grandma looked right back. Every news channel reported the tragic heart attack of the most beloved engineer. Headlines on magazines said, "Too bad she didn't create something that'd help her now,". Sky knew that this horrifying event will not only be the obstacle course in the now, but change her life forever.

"Knock, knock," Sky took in one last look at herself before chiming, "Come in!"

"Um. Hey." Darian walked in slowly, as if expecting to see Sky with tissues in her hair and bags under her eyes. Sky couldn't blame him. Darian's long black hair was pulled into a short ponytail. He wore a black collar with a gray tie with an attempt to look nice. Sky had to admit, Darian really did clean himself up.

"How you doing?" He asked, concern practically bleeding from his eyes. Darian was Mary's engineering assistant. Even though Mary got most of the credit, she couldn't have pulled it off without Darian. Darian was about 30 and had grown to be a father like figure to Sky.

Sky shrugged, "Even when she's dead, she still manages to find a way to get me out of my room," Sky attempted the joke, though her tone betrayed her. Darian gave Sky a hug and gestured for her to follow. Smoothing her silky black dress, she found her courage to join him.