Looking around, she realized she was in the middle of a small rooftop flower garden. The scent of carnations mixed with lavender and rosemary danced in her nose. Bees and butterflies bounced from flower to flower, paying their new visitor no mind. A short set of metal stairs connected to a small balcony on the edge of the building where more flowers grew in small pots. She climbed the stairs and leaned forward on the guardrail, peering out over the city. Another gust of wind came. This time it was gentle. Her hair floated in the wind, softly pulling at her scalp.
She closed her eyes trying to concentrate on the scents and warm breeze but found it impossible. Tears began to brim in her closed eyelids. Her throat tightened. She pressed stiffened fingers into the inner corners of her eyes. Hiding her face in her hands, she couldn’t conceal it any longer. A sharp breath came and she began to cry. It was all too much for her. Tears ran down the length of her nose and fell onto her hands, leaving little dark splashes of mascara where they landed. She reached into her hair as she lowered her head. She began to tremble under the weight of it all. Sharp breaths came in between sobs. She watched her tears fall and break apart in the long drop below. Her head ached from the sudden rush of blood.
Birds on the rooftop chirped cheerfully, but even their songs did nothing to console her. At last, she gathered her hair into her hands and pulled it over her right shoulder. She combed it with her fingers, still sniffling, trying to regain her composure. The sleeve of her jacket did nothing to absorb, but it was able to wipe away most of the black lines that ran from her eyes. She blinked away the remaining tears and slid her hair back behind her ears.
She looked out over the city. A distant highway lay in a long, reflective band, peeled in a perfect curve that cut through the metallic structures of the city. Cars zipped silently both ways on it in smooth, silent motions. Following it towards the sun, the road disappeared behind buildings erected in front of the dominant pyramid structure of Fenix, Inc.
This is all my fault, she thought. If I transfer, everyone would be happy. She could race, securing her, Zedd, and Zark’s career. She felt selfish, disgusted with the way she had been treating her teammates. She was the one that made Zedd take the risk in the race. He had done it for her.
Feeling sorry for herself, knowing it was wrong, added guilt to her sadness. Despair engulfed her. She felt betrayed by herself and her friends. Transferring. Has it really come to this? There’s no other way.
She left the rooftop garden. She again took the stairway in order to have some time to clear her head. She would need time to convince herself that transfer was out of her hands.
When she reached her apartment, Nico was curled on the couch, waiting for Lena to return. Lena fell onto the couch and let her head fall into her hands. Nico brushed against her, and Lena ran a hand down her back.
“You have it so good,” Lena reminded her pet. She let out a sigh.
A short vibration went off in her jacket. Reaching into the pocket, she grasped her celltab.
Looking down at it, she assumed she would see images of Zedd’s new shop. A shop that she would never be able to work in. Never be able to see its full potential. She was right. Zedd had sent her some pictures and cheerful messages. But there was also a message from an unrecognized contact. Curious, she opened it first.