Symbiosis: When a Girl Meets an Alien (V.6)

Chapter 1: Emily's Pathetic Pity Party

Monday, September 14, 2020

Redding, California, United States of America

The alarm clock blared, shattering the tranquility of the room. Emily stirred in her bed, groggily reaching out to silence the intrusive noise. It went off every single day at the same time, even on weekends, yet somehow the young genius' brain never got used to it. Her hand fumbled for a moment before finally hitting the button, bringing blessed silence back to the room. A pained groan was the only sound to escape her lips.

Emily pushed herself up, her muscles protesting the movement. The faint morning light filtering through the curtains illuminated the small room, casting soft shadows on the walls. Rubbing her eyes, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

Her gaze drifted to the cane resting against the bedside table, a constant reminder of her condition. With a resigned sigh, she reached for it, using it as leverage to stand up. The ache in her joints was familiar, a constant companion in her daily struggle. Multiple Sclerosis was the diagnosis, and she had suffered from it for years. While according to her doctors it would only take a handful of years off her life, Emily wished it would finish her off sooner. Every day was a constant battle with her own body - mind versus limbs, muscles versus nerves - and the tremors that rocked her were the stark reminder of that.

As she made her way to the bathroom, the floorboards creaked beneath her weight. Each step was a conscious effort, a delicate balance between determination and exhaustion. The mirror revealed a pale reflection, dark circles under her electric blue eyes betraying a restless night plagued by spasms and pain.

She gave herself a sarcastic thumbs up, "Looking better than normal,"

Emily went through her morning routine with practiced efficiency, the rhythm of it comforting in its familiarity - even if in equal measure exhausting. She swallowed her medication with a glass of water, the bitter taste lingering on her tongue. She would then dress herself in a red tee shirt and jeans, the best she could manage on her own before making her way downstairs, her wooden cane clicking against the hardwood floor rhythmically. The smell of pancakes and bacon reached her, and a smile crossed her face.

"Morning, sweetheart," her mother, Isabelle, greeted, a warm smile on her face. "How did you sleep?"

Emily offered a half-hearted smile in return, her thoughts already drifting to the day ahead. "Not bad," she replied, though the lie was evident in her voice.

Sleep was a luxury she could seldom afford, her restless nights filled with pain and uncertainty. The multiple sclerosis was enough of a problem as is. The epilepsy was a creeping killer. That was the real reason Emily didn't get much sleep. She was too scared to. The idea that she could close her eyes and never wake up scared her. Breakfast, while delicious, passed in a blur, Emily's mind busy with thoughts about her day. That was her mind. Always busy. Always thinking, calculating. Thinking was quite possibly the only thing that brought her joy.

Her father, John Sr. had already left for work, and her mother tried to make conversation, but Emily failed to reciprocate much. Anything she didn't eat she snuck to her pet - and best friend - though her mother simply pretended not to notice. Emily's pet was not normal or typical for a girl her age. It wasn't a dog, it wasn't a cat, or a free range rabbit or hamster... it was an emperor penguin. Emily had affectionately given the creature the name 'Tux'. Tux had wandered into their lives, likely from the abandoned aquarium a mile and a half from their home.

The problem was penguins were endangered, and therefore, super illegal to possess as a pet. But, given Emily's condition, the fact she had already attached herself, and her parents had notoriously begun spoiling their daughter, a legal loophole had been found. By declaring their home a 'sanctuary' they were able to get by, and Emily got her penguin. This pissed off her older siblings, John Jr. and Chloe, and was one of the many reasons they disliked their baby sister.