The Me You Stole ✔

Safety 6

Andrea didn't feel much better in the morning. Most of the night she watched the ceiling, wondering if her mother truly felt bad for her or if it was yet another trick. If that woman honestly felt that sorry for her, then she had reason to worry. Marian afforded few people that emotion. Other than a handful of the slower workers whom she hired to do heavy lifting—and Gulliver, who couldn't speak—she rarely gave anyone special treatment.

Sometimes Andrea thought Marian was cruel, but she helped Gulliver make a craft at Christmastime every year without fail—despite the fact that her grandfather had sometimes complained about wasting time with such an archaic leftover from the off-island trades. Other times Andrea wondered if maybe she herself was just hopeless.

She dressed and made her way into work. That morning she sat at her desk and stared at the interface, unable to focus on the data files awaiting her attention. They flashed on the smooth touch screen, but she ignored them.

A soft snapping noise roused her, and she flinched. When she focused on her new colleague's curious brown eyes, she leaned away.

Tanner had snapped his fingers to force her awake. The E said something to her, but Andrea turned her attention to her task, determined to get something done.

The gentle tap on her shoulder surprised her. The look Tanner wore was one of annoyance, and it took a moment before its source dawned on Andrea. She had ignored the man; she had resolved to treat the E as if he didn't exist just because he couldn't communicate. She was taken aback by Tanner's expression. It held no malice, no hurt or injury, just a seriousness that made it clear he didn't like how he was treated.

The stare disrupted Andrea's somber mood. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I...." She paused, wondering if it was better to try to speak even though it was English. Those light brown eyes never looked away, so Andrea decided to pretend the man could understand her. "I apologize. I'm just a bit down, but that's no reason to take it out on you."

Her words held no meaning for Tanner, who did not respond. The E wore a curious expression; maybe he wasn't sure if Andrea intended to continue.

When Andrea sat back with a sigh, the bald E did something strange. He reached across Andrea and took a sheet of paper from the meager stack on Andrea's desk.

Andrea's eyes widened, alarmed by the gesture. The Colony was strict about recycling everything, and due to its low amount of plant life, almost all paper was replicated. Even replicated paper was still taboo for everyday use, so although everyone in the office was given a small stack as a status symbol, the fact that Tanner used it so casually was startling on many levels.

After a short moment, Tanner put a small paper heart on Andrea's desk and leaned forward until their eyes met. Language barrier or no, Andrea knew a "'watch this'" expression when she saw one. When the E pulled the back of the paper heart and it appeared to be beating, Andrea's face lit up. She even let out a soft laugh that carried through the silent office.

It wasn't the heart that made her smile; she wasn't sure what it was. Tanner gave her that quiet smile of his and put the paper down again.

Andrea bowed. When she met the E's gaze, she said, "Thank you."

"Bitte schön," Tanner said. He paused and cleared his throat. "Please."

Please? Andrea considered the word, but eventually she took it to mean "'you're welcome'."

Tanner stood and approached the elderly supervisors who chatted a few feet away by the door. Andrea cupped the heart and brought it close with both hands.

She exhaled again. "Thank you."

One of the elder men who passed by saw the paper and gasped. Their gazes locked, Andrea swallowed hard and squeezed the heart in the palm of her hands.