Never Meant to Be

  I leaned over the table, watching as Aourine tinkered with the silver thing. My head tilted, keenly watching the odd tool in her hand.

  Her slender, long fingers played with a thin metal wand — the kind with the spiraled head that bites into metal like a hungry bug. They are called wuitu*. I believe.

  I had no interest in this, unlike Aourine. I would often huddle around her, watching her when we were… together.

  She would explain things whenever my confusion showed.

  But other than that, we both would remain quiet.

  She would work, and I would watch like a foolish person in love.

  Even now, the same scene repeated.

  She was working while I watched eagerly without muttering a single phrase.

  She twisted a tiny silver seed, a hard little thing with grooves carved into its belly.

  Clink.

  It fell onto the table.

  Boom!

  The ground lurched beneath us with a violent shake.

  Everything around us shook.

  Clink.

  Clatter.

  “Eralla! The bolt!”

  I caught the tiny thing when it tried to escape the table. Sneaky thing.

  I put it in Aourine’s palm when she held out her soft, pretty hand — My work-hardened fingers lingered.

  “The situation is getting worse.”

  She said, putting the bolt back on the table in a small clay container.

  I stared at her, startled as she ignored the tension between us and went back to work.

  The past two days have passed in a haze of ash and worry. I have been regularly visiting Aourine despite Ma’s obvious reluctance.

  I can’t let go of her now.

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  “How are things going with Aourine?”

  Donttano asked.

  “She is working gjet *and gjna*.”

  I answered.

  “Tohthorayn is getting impatient. Not just him; everyone is getting impatient. And as time rains down on us, we must tell everyone of the impending doom, Tig-eralla.”

  “I understand. But from what I have seen, what she does is hard. It takes time.”

  He smiled.

  “Of course. You two have spent time together since you were three.”

  I hummed.

  “Tig-eralla… Mind if I offer you some advice?”

  I shook my head hesitantly.

  “No…”

  “From what I have seen in Aourine, she lived above our ashy dark clouds. She wants to be out there. With no family to provide for. You have a responsibility. You have a Maa-a to take care of. Siblings to take care of. You two were never meant to be… together.”

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  I tossed around on my satta*, turning to face the wall.

  My hand clenched my chest. It hurt. It hurt so badly.

  The words kept repeating in my head. Printed. Hurting.

  You two were never meant to be… together.

  ?

  Txetia Glossary

  Wuitu (Tok-key) — means “Screw driver”

  Satta (Sat-tah) — means “mattress”

  Gjet (Ju-eat) — means “day”

  Gjna (Ju-nah) — means “night”