A Million Suns

50 AMY

I HEARD THE WI–COMS FIRST.

Then I saw the smoke.

Then I could hear, far in the distance — the sound of the ship in revolt.

Elder coms me and at first I’m relieved — at least I know he’s escaping the mob — but he sounds as if he’s running — fleeing — and the com cuts out before I can say anything.

I run straight to the Hospital, to the elevator, to the cryo level.

It is silent here, and cold.

Above me there is rage, and fire, and chaos.

But here: stillness and ice.

I pull my parents out at the same time, relishing in the feel of cold metal on my skin, the ch-thunk sound the cryo chambers make as they settle on their stands.

“Today,” I whisper, “I miss you.”

I know it’s stupid, I know it’s pointless, but there is still within me a tiny part of my mind that believes my parents can fix anything. Even a mutinous ship, even people who are tearing apart the only home they’ve known. Even me, caught in the eye of this storm.

Elder said the ship would be landing soon, a voice whispers to the piece of me that still cries for them.

When the ship lands, they’ll be woken up anyway. Why not wake them up now?

Why not?

Why not?

Why not?