Daughter Undisclosed

By Susan K. Flach

In the future all will be equal
-No variation of skin color
-No difference in gender
-No discrepancy of ideals
Except for Solar Callahan…She is a girl.
AND FOR THIS SHE WILL DIE!

What Tarrick knows…
-Solar Callahan defines attractive
-Solar Callahan is really a girl
-Solar Callahan must be turned in
IT’S THE LAW!
“I pledge allegiance to the FAED…”

Sixteen-year-old Solar is born into a society where she is not allowed. After meeting Tarrick, who discovers her truth, Solar realizes it won’t be long before she’s turned in to the authorities— by Tarrick. Now she’s scared! And it hurts! Because she’s never felt this strongly about anyone before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796055191

Book preview

Chapter #1

Solar Callahan checked her pulse. It was something she did often. Once she read that an elevated pulse was indicative of fear. And right then hers was clipping at well past one hundred and thirty beats per minute and skyrocketing.

Ignoring the hammering in her chest, she stared at the tiny piece of hair that was dangling loose across her cheekbone. The image of her refection reached out to mock her.

You’ve been sloppy.

How long have you been walking around this way?

Finally…everyone is going to know the truth.

The jig is up…you’re going to die.

Reaching shaky fingers to her face, Solar tucked the rogue strand neatly back in place. Out of sight—hidden away behind a cap of cropped hair that was really just a wig. The hair piece that was like a second skin. That had been worn since the day she was a young child. That was hiding the secret she was carrying around with her everyday like a giant burden.

The secret of who Solar Callahan really was.

Solar Callahan wasn’t just referred to as a she.

Solar Callahan was actually a girl!

And she didn’t need a pulse-check App on her mobile device to tell her what she already knew to be true—she was scared!

Every week it seemed the burden was getting heavier. What if she goofed up and people began to see the truth about her? Like how on that particular day, she had been negligent about tucking in her long locks properly. To her, the obvious was very evident. It was only going to be a matter of time before others noticed it too. They would look at her—glance at just the right angle—and finally realize what she’d been carefully trying to hide all along.

From a very young age she knew she was different. Special, her mom had told her. But she mustn’t tell anyone. Shouldn’t talk about it with her friends—with anyone for that matter. And of course, she hadn’t. She’d grown up hearing the rumors about those before her—few as they were—that had shared her same dilemma. And how they had met their end.

The leadership of the FAED had worked so hard to make a place on earth where everyone was holding onto the same deck of cards. Where all were on the same playing field. A utopia of equality with all negative variables eliminated. Finally!

The inhabitants of the First Association of Egalitarian Domain, or more commonly referred to as the FAED, had only to look back at the devastation from past history to know the right decision had been made. Years and years of dissention between fellow inhabitants of the earth which lead to combat after combat. World War I, World War II, and most recently, World War III. Then there was the great fallout which came soon after.

By studying life, analyzing past behaviors of human beings, and then concurrently studying life under a microscope, analyzing which DNA strands could be tweaked and rearranged, the first step in eliminating inequality had been reached. Now due to much experimentation in a test tube, people were able to share the same hair, skin and eye color—it just made things so much simpler. Racial tensions now had no chance of prevailing. And the beauty of this new-found creature was that it could be created by using an artificial womb in a lab. The use of a female to carry a baby was no longer needed. Once the tiny—as it was commonly referred—was in utero, it was injected with a serum of hormone neutralizing drug, causing it to be born with gender neutral qualities.

Finally, there was world where all could be considered equal. No more variables to create inequality. No more differences in ethnicity and skin color. No more disparity among the sexes.

Finally, since the very beginning of time, there was a world with just plain human beings!

Solar should be thankful for the leadership of the FAED. Should be proud to live in a place where so much effort had been taken to create a utopian society for the left-over inhabitants of the earth. World War III had taken such a toll on the planet—on the whole of mankind. She’d read all about it in history class. Such immense tragedy. So much hate, leading up to the continent-devastating nuclear explosions, the massive state of confusion, wide-spread chemical-induced disease, and ravaging of land. And then there was the fall-out. The thing that no-one liked to talk about. The thing that no-one was allowed to talk about. The great disappearances that had no scientific explanation. But even though it was not granted discussion—was not included in the textbooks at school—word of it was still mentioned on the street. Many had embraced the theory that the effects of biological warfare used in battle had been far-reaching, causing people to disintegrate all across the globe. Just another devastation of the war. Just another devastation of life before now.

Yes, Solar knew she should be grateful to the founders of the FAED—but instead most of the time she just felt scared. Scared of Leadership. Scared of the enforcers who might stop her on the street—who could walk up, pull off her wig, and bare her to the public. Scared of perceptive teachers, of close friends, or parents of close friends, who would figure out the difference between their child and Solar’s carefully hidden feminine features. She was scared of everyone, really. Scared of getting caught and exposed for defying Leadership. Her existence was a rebellion in the face of all they were working hard to accomplish on earth. Sure, she already referred to herself as a she. In the early years in didn’t really matter. The terms he and she were used interchangeably. But by age eleven, a youth in the FAED—youth; the generic term for anyone under eighteen years—usually stuck with the pronoun they preferred in order to keep it simple. Of course, for most it was just a representation. Something to be referred to—nothing more. And if so deemed, the terms he and she could be changed at any point in one’s life.

But for Solar it meant something more.

A lot more.

You are special, Solar, her mom had told her throughout the years. And the older she grew the more she believed her. The more she became aware of the truth of who she was. But who would she be when she eventually became an adult? What difference would her gender make when it came to taking a job in the future? Five days a week she went to the academy just like all the other youths of the FAED, and studied the academic subjects taught by the educators in the classroom. But when it came time to take the vocational test upon graduation what occupation would she test into? Did she have the mind of a healthcare tech? An educator? A farmer? Or maybe a production and distribution worker? The possibility of a counselling position seemed likely—Solar kept hearing how the need in this area was on the rise. And that wouldn’t be so bad, she supposed.

But when Solar envisioned becoming an enforcer it didn’t feel right at all. In fact, it gave her the chills. She just couldn’t imagine having to police society—crack down on rule breakers, when she herself was the greatest rule breaker of all. But of course, there were worse options—what if she was so smart she ended up testing into an innovator career? Innovator—the umbrella term that housed research scientists and engineers who operated closely with Leadership, giving their thoughts on the how to’s and why things function like they do. What if she had to go to work each day and rub shoulders with the upper echelon of society—offering ideas, and finding solutions to all problems inside the FAED?

It would equate to being under a microscope on a daily basis.

How long would it take before they discovered her differences? That she was a lawbreaker worthy of public execution. She’d heard the stories! She lived out the worry of the threat on a daily basis.

You are special, Solar.

Yes, but did special mean smart as well? Smart enough to eventually become an innovator? At times she considered dumbing down her grades in the classroom. Acting like she didn’t know so much—wasn’t so interested in why things were like they were. How things ticked and fit together in life. Subduing her curiosity for the reasoning behind why A + B = C. Maybe she should just accept things at face value. It seemed most did.

Once again Solar looked into the mirror and the wayward strand of hair that threatened to slip out of place caught her attention. Snapping out of the daily reverie of her mind, she studied her reflection. Licking a finger, she tucked the chestnut colored lock deeper into the cropped wig, making sure this time it really stuck. A sigh escaped her lips.

The defiant lock of hair was a reminder of what she knew to be all too true.

She wasn’t like most.

Turning away from the dressing table, she grabbed a satchel from the hook inside her bedroom door and slung it over her shoulder. Her mom had requested she make a jaunt into Inner-town to pick up some items for dinner. The walk wasn’t a long one. The equivalent of eight city blocks. But she had better get going. It was autumn season, and the sun was setting a little earlier each day. And everyone knew it wasn’t safe after dark. Even with all the enforcers on the streets.

Exiting the front door, Solar made her way down the cement walkway and began heading toward Inner-town on foot. Beside her, the buildings that lined the streets looked identical. Gray flats with pewter trim. The same as the one she shared with her family. Another way Leadership had decided to make things equal for all people. And for the most part it was nice. No one had bragging rights, because everything looked the same. The downside was occasionally having to switch flats. Once a year, housing assessments were conducted. Numbers were reported and if adversity in the form of divorce or death had struck your family, you had no choice but to move. Solar had already experienced this move—once.

But her new flat wasn’t far away from her original dwelling—so at least there was that.

Walking on an incline, Solar could see the hubbub of city life in the near distance. Restaurants, stores, saloons, marketplaces, and outdoor vendors all located in core of the land. The FAED, fashioned in the shape of a sports arena from times past, was filled with bleachers in the form of tiny gray flats—the homes of those who resided in the post war civilization. These architecturally stadium-styled neighborhoods surrounded the center of all activity—Inner-town.

The only variance was to the east where a reservoir separated the living quarters of Leadership from the rest of the FAED. Besides Leadership, only innovators crossed over the deep, confined lake. The reservoir was a body of water created to keep the keep the city outfitted with an uncontaminated—un-war savaged—drinking supply. Solar always wondered what it would be like on the other side of the water. Not that she wanted to find out that badly. Not if it meant testing into an innovator career. Besides, the other side of the reservoir didn’t look all that different from the rest of the FAED. From her viewpoint it was all more of the same. More and more flats similar to her own. It was what the Leadership boasted of—the same living conditions as the rest of society. And yet when Solar stared hard enough, she thought she could detect slight variances. But it was nothing she could put her finger on. The coloring of the exteriors—were they a shade lighter? Or was it in the size of the windows—were Leadership’s slightly larger? Was there more foliage ensconcing the front doors? It was hard to tell really, and besides it was only just a thought. A passing notion—one that most didn’t give much significance to.

Gathering her satchel tightly to her hip, Solar flattened the palm of her hand against its grainy fabric. She could make out the contour of the two by three plastic shape that was tucked inside. Good—her paying card was still there. As long as she could still feel its outline beneath her fingertips, she knew it was safe and sound. Inner-town was getting closer—only three blocks away. She wouldn’t remove the protective covering of her hand until she reached the market. By now the alleys were getting narrower—a reminder of the robberies that were on the rise. She couldn’t afford to be in any way negligent and give petty thieves access to their family’s food rationing account. Allotments were doled out at the beginning of each month. She’d heard of those who had been robbed, or had spent their grocery allocation prematurely, and their families had gone hungry. A shudder ripped through Solar’s body at the ugly image that conjured in her mind. She never wanted her family to go without food.

Hey…you, there. A voice reached Solar’s ears as she walked along, causing her to startle and press a hand more tightly against her hip.

Her first thoughts were to protect the money. After performing a cursory glance, she saw no-one. Still, the echo of laughter coming from youths clued her that someone was there. She peered into the nearest alleyway, but couldn’t really see much. Then two figures stepped into her line of view, just visible under the waning hours of daylight. Two youths around the ages of nine or ten. They were no one she recognized.

Where you going?

Going to the market? There was something about their tone of voice that Solar found eerily taunting. Clearly, they were up to no good. Looking away, she picked up her pace.

Irritating little twits, she muttered under her breath.

Don’t go, one of them called out.

Not yet, came the counterpart.

Solar kept walking ignoring their fading voices. Hoping to leave any ill-intent behind.

"I said don’t go—not before— Laughter erupted between the youths. —not before you do what we say and lift up your shirt."

Without warning, fear exploded through Solar’s chest. Had she just heard right? Why had they asked the question of her? It wasn’t a request often made in the FAED. It lacked the obvious thrill factor because essentially everyone was built the same.

Everyone, that is, but Solar Callahan.

Solar made every effort to keep moving forward. With a multitude of thoughts inundating her mind, she finally reached the marketplace. But it was hard to focus. Large, swinging doors under a weathered canopy swooshed behind her as she walked through the front entrance of the store. Bright lights blinded her thoughts as she headed toward the produce section. Loading salad greens into a basket, she proceeded down the isles in search of a box of soybeans.

Reaching for her temple, Solar smoothed back her cropped wig. All felt in place. No stray wisps of hair. Still, her heart beat fast. Glancing over her shoulder, she made a quick perusal of the store. Was anyone following her? It seemed she was all alone, save a scattering of shoppers intent on picking up the last of the goods that their waning end-of-the-month ration card allowed. For many, the beginning of the month couldn’t come soon enough. She’d heard firsthand stories of those who had run out of credit ahead of the redeposit. The result was the endurance of hunger or the great forbid—street begging. But lucky for Solar, her mom, Reis Callahan, was adept at doling out their family allocations at an appropriate rate. They had never felt the pangs of wanting a bite to eat and not having a drop of food in the house.

Of course there were the free-spending rations. So, if needed, that could be used as back-up grocery currency. But in the same way, it seemed those that ran out of food money, ran out of free-spending as well. So, the end-of-the-month results were the same. No money. As-of-late though, there were classes being taught on this regard—so things were bound to get better.

After picking up a loaf of bread in the baker’s section, Solar let her eyes sweep across the market’s interior one more time. It seemed all was clear, so she proceeded to the register to pay. As usual, M. Porter manned the machine.

Good evening, Solar, came his customary greeting as she stepped into line.

She felt the warmth of his smile envelope her presence. She was a regular. He knew her by name. Knew most by name probably. He was there all the time. But today Solar couldn’t quite look him in the eye. Did he know? Did everyone know? Was her secret finally out in the open? She was so nervous. Getting practically paranoid. It was just a couple of youths in an alleyway.

Good evening, Solar managed to mutter back, all the while focusing her attention on arranging salad greens on the conveyor belt. The total was computed, and she slipped her paying card into a steel gray device. A small computer did the calculation and took what it needed from her family’s account.

In front of her, she could hear M. Porter making small talk, conversing with her like usual. In turn she offered the appropriate yes’s and no’s in a small voice and varying shakes of the head. For the most part, grocer, M. Porter, seemed not to notice the stance of her new low-profiled behavior. But when he called out Well enjoy the rest of night, Solar, as she gathered up her parcels, there was an inflection of concern in his voice.

Nodding, Solar left the store in a hurry and considered taking a different route home. But while vacillating with her decision, she heard a commotion up ahead. In the distance she recognized the same two youths as before and realized the alleyway that had given her trouble earlier in the hour was closer than she thought. It was just a stone throw away. The escape route she needed was coming up very soon. But would it come quickly enough to keep her incognito? Hunching her shoulders, she kept her head low, trying to make a getaway unnoticed.

Hey, you there—

Solar bristled. Pausing for only a heartbeat, she refused to look up. The corner she needed would be coming up soon.

Yeah you—

Just keep going—keep walking, was the mantra that filled her head.

But it was the thud mixed with a spongy splattering sound that ultimately drew her attention. Abandoning her self-talk, Solar lifted her head. She was just shy of her alternate route. So close to the turn. So close to escaping the problem. And yet would she ever really be able to escape the true issue at hand? Her eyes focused in the twilight, trying to decipher the scene. A smashed tomato lay demolished in the center of the street. Stepping out from the alleyway, the same two youths from earlier came into view, fists filled with more of the same. Soon, a second tomato came flying through the air, taking its place among the debris.

Solar flinched with disgust. To witness food being wasted! Someone in the FAED would gladly have eaten those tomatoes for dinner. Fresh produce to boot. And yet while her split-second instincts were telling her the wasted food was the least of her problems, she noticed a third figure just up ahead. Again, her eyes focused.

This time recognition set in.

It was Jay Kendall, from school.

Instinctively, Solar took a step back. Jay was clearing a path around the smashed tomatoes—walking as far away from the youths as possible. But clearly, they were still looking tauntingly in Jay’s direction. Was Jay the center of the children’s attention then?

What’s the matter…afraid of a little tomato soup? one of the youths called out. Laughter followed. Jay kept walking trying to avoid the hecklers.

Hey…where you going? We’re talking to you. While their attention was focused on Jay, Solar crept quietly toward her turnoff.

Not so fast—we just want—we want you to do us a small favor. Don’t be a prude. Just lift up your shirt.

Solar froze. Raising a brow, she finally turned to make eye contact with the youths. Obviously, it was game over. But when she turned back, she was surprised to find they still weren’t looking her way. Their interest remained focused on Jay.

And yet oddly enough they had made Jay the same proposition as they had her earlier. The lift-the-shirt thing. What did it all mean? Was her secret still safe then? Had the youths been onto her at all? Or were they just being stupid kids? Stupid, annoying kids, possibly even partaking in the latest recreational activity going around call The Game! Exhaling a raged breath, she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.

I’m still okay. Everything is okay. My secret is still safe.

Instead, she quickly found her detour. Undetected by the youths, she set out for home. It was almost dark by the time she reached her address. Streetlights set on tall, metal poles cast a glow on the sidewalk that lead to the front entryway of her flat. Solar’s hands trembled a little as she balanced her satchel of groceries in one arm, trying to fiddle with the key that would let her inside. In spite of the positive turn of events, she was obviously still shook up. Would those feelings ever go away?

Key situated in the lock, it was this bleak thought that was running through Solar’s mind when a flash of movement caught her attention. It was a silhouette in the front window. Two round eyes peering out through the glass pane, watching.

The feeling felt familiar.

For a moment Solar’s eyes connected with the onlooker’s. And then she continued on with the task of turning the handle on the door.

Chapter #2

Solar…pst…Solar—

Solar wrenched around on her twin-sized mattress and looked toward the entrance of her bedroom. She had thought she had heard something, and she was right. Through the crack of a slightly ajar door she could see a slender figure standing just outside. Two eyes peering through the waning afternoon light.

Hey…Solar, the voice came again, tentative and gentle.

What is it, Seelye, Solar called to her sibling. Come on in…it’s your room too. Of course, you can come in.

The door creaked on its hinges as it opened all the way. I know, but you look busy. Are you doing schoolwork.?

No…just drawing…come in.

Seelye glanced toward the twin bed that was positioned lateral to her sister’s. But instead of going there, she walked across the room with feather light footsteps and sat down next to Solar. For a few minutes she watched as Solar worked in silence. Drawing, etching and shaping—pausing and erasing—then etching some more. Stopping, she took a moment to evaluate her work. Twirling a pencil between her fingers, she glanced up into Seelye’s rapt expression. Seelye was taking everything in—always taking everything in. And more-often-than-not, it seemed Solar was her main study.

But Solar didn’t mind. Not really. Solar had only been two when her mom and dad had gone to Health Development Center to pick up their second child—Seelye. She, being too young of course, couldn’t recall the entire incubation period—the nine months that it took for a tiny to be in womb. She’d only heard her mom talk of the trips they had taken to the far side of Inner-town to view the monthly growth of their soon child-to-be—Seelye. The same as they had done with Solar when she was a tiny.

Then they brought Seelye home. And Solar and Seelye had been together ever since.

Why are you drawing so many flowers? Seelye’s voice was contemplative. There are so many. All in a group together. So many of them.

Picking up her drawing, Solar tilted the paper and eyed it from various angles. Yes…I guess there are…several.

Why so many, Solar?

Solar pondered an answer. In-actuality she had never witnessed that many flowers in one place with her own eyes. Around the FAED, one might spy a stray pot or two filled with geraniums, or begonias, sitting on the doorstep of a flat. But never this many in one grouping. It was as if the flowers in the drawing had taken off on their own—in complete rebellion to the idea of plant pots. Wild and free. It was as if she was viewing a field of blossoms.

The thought was exhilarating.

Setting down the paper, she turned toward Seelye. Aren’t they beautiful? I thought one flower was pretty…so I kept drawing more and more. And now they look so lovely all together in one place don’t you think?

As always, Seelye nodded in agreement, eyes large and introspective. If the flowers were beautiful to Solar, then they were beautiful to her too.

Back then, they were twelve and ten—back when Seelye first found her older sibling doodling a field of flowers. Since that time, Solar had come up with several more renditions—all more colorful than the first. And with each sketch, an unexplained feeling of hope. Four years’ worth.

It had been Seelye’s eyes peering through the window as she waited for Solar’s return from the market. Shopping trip complete, Solar took in Seelye’s slight form and suddenly felt an eagerness to get the groceries to her mom. Hopefully dinner would be prepared soon so that they could eat. So that Seelye could eat. Seelye’s bone-thin structure was always a cause for concern in Solar’s mind. Sure, she was of small stature, but beyond that, she was too slender as well. Down-right skinny. But over-the-years there had been trips to health clinics, and nothing had ever turned up. It was just her. It was Seelye. She was small and thin. It was the reason her eyes stood out among the delicate features of her face. Round and watchful—always in tune to their surroundings. Always in tune to Solar’s surroundings.

How was your trip to the market? Seelye’s voice was soft as she reached to take one of the Satchels from Solar’s arms.

Offering a faint smile, Solar dodged Seelye’s outstretched arms. Instead, she walked the packages to the kitchen and set them down on a small, wooden table herself. Seeyle was always trying to be helpful. But she was too frail. And Solar didn’t really need all the help that she offered. Taking a deep breath, she contemplated Seelye’s question. Instantly, she recalled the encounter with the children in the alleyway and an involuntary shudder wielded her shoulders. Shaking it away, she turned to call a reply down the hallway, but Seelye was already there beside her. She had followed her into the room.

Solar adjusted her voice to accommodate Seelye’s sudden nearness. It was just fine. I got what we needed. The bread looks fresh, so Mom will be happy.

Seelye dug through the satchel until she found the bread. Then rotated it in her hands. It does look fresh…it looks good. I’m hungry.

Solar eyed Seelye’s small frame and tried to decipher the subtest coming from her eyes. Was she telling the truth? Was she really hungry? Did it mean that she would eat a good portion of dinner that night then? Or was she just saying all the right words? Solar should have known how to interpret the meaning of Seelye’s words by then. She should be able to read her intentions like a book. But often, with Seelye, it didn’t work that way. Often, with Seelye, her actions remained a mystery. Even to Solar.

One thing Solar did know for sure, Seelye adored her. She looked up to her as the older sibling. Held her in high reverence. Whatever Solar did, Seelye wanted to do too. She was always there, lingering, waiting for the next activity—the next adventure on Solar’s agenda, so that she could partake in it too. Even back when they were young. Especially back when they were young.

Hey, Seelye, grab your gloves if you are coming along then. And a scarf while you’re at it.

Solar remembered the snow incident like it was yesterday. She had been on her way out to go sledding on the hill behind their flat. It didn’t snow often in the FAED, so that day’s white covering on the ground was a really big deal. In fact, in all of Solar’s then eight years of life, she’d never seen the likes of it. When she had awoken earlier that morning, an unfamiliar glow lighting up her bedroom walls had piqued her attention. Further inspection had revealed a regular winter wonderland waiting just outside of her window.

As soon as Seelye found out that Solar was heading outdoors to go sledding and make snow forts with other youths in the neighborhood, she had announced that she was going too.

But Mom…isn’t Seelye too young? Solar had asked. Sledding—going fast down a hill, making snowballs—frosty and cold, with the possibility of containing real ice pieces—this was uncharted territory. Certainly, a mere seven-year-old shouldn’t be allowed to partake in these types of activities. Clearly, this sort of thing was more on the level of a nine-year-old, such as herself. But Seelye had insisted, and her mom hadn’t dissented in-spite-of Solar’s expose about the obvious threat of danger.

Minutes later, Seelye had shown up covered from head to toe in make-shift winter wear just as Solar was about to step into the out-of-doors. I’m ready to go, she announced, her eyes peering out from under the layers.

Solar just shook her head. You are going to have a hard time walking in all that, Solar had warned. But Seelye didn’t flinch at her sister’s words. And soon Solar gathered up the last of her winter things, and Seelye followed her out the front door.

A blanket of white had covered the incline behind the row of flats on their street, turning what was normally a man-made runoff for rain into a picturesque hillside. New energy filled the air. Youths from all over the neighborhood, and beyond, were making their way toward the slope. It was becoming a winter carnival, with snowmen, miniature igloos, and the imprint of angels in the ground. Soon a long line formed of youths waiting to take their turn sliding down the slope on home-made sleds. Solar was on her third go, when she happened to glance behind her.

As promised, there was Seelye to her rear. She hadn’t missed a step. Doing her best to keep up, she was always somewhere within the vicinity. Never more than a short distance away. Positioning the crate she had found in the storage closet of their dwelling, Solar plopped on top, and began making the decent toward the bottom. Using her arms as propellers, she quickly picked up speed. This was her speediest run yet. Faster and faster she zoomed toward the valley below. But soon, momentum took over, ending her smooth flight. It wasn’t long before she lost control. The spill in the snow filled her face with powder and ice. For a moment, disorientation clouded her mind. Taking a deep breath, she brushed herself off and stood up. She eyed her surroundings in search of her sled, knowing it couldn’t be too far away. At least not more than a few feet. But to her dismay it wasn’t anywhere close by. At least not within grabbing distance.

Hey, give that back, she called out when she realized that a trio of youths had taken possession of it. "Hey…that sled you just took…it’s mine. That’s my sled." But her complaints were getting no reaction. Maybe they didn’t know. Maybe they hadn’t realized, she relayed in her mind. But even as Solar thought the words, she knew they weren’t true. The group of youths knew exactly what they were doing taking her sled away, but they just didn’t care. It was three against one, they were bigger, and as it stood, weren’t being very scrupulous.

Finally, the tallest one turned around. Sorry…it’s your loss I guess, because clearly it’s ours now.

Anger welled up inside Solar. How could they? It was her sled. Her crate. Her mom and dad’s crate, actually. Most likely used for something when it wasn’t doubling as a sled like it was that day. More importantly, it would be hard to replace. The money rations were limited, and her parents had always said things didn’t come easy. Everyone in the FAED may be getting the same allowances, but there wasn’t all that much money to go around. Things needed to be respected and taken good care of.

Solar put her hands on her hips. They were starting to get a little numb from the cold, but the fire in her veins fueled her tenacity. How dare you, she spat in the direction of her disappearing sled. I said give that back!

In unison, the trio of thieves turned around. Suddenly, it seemed Solar was facing a band of looming giants as they sneered into her eyes.

I think you’re mistaken… we said this sled is ours.

Yeah, ours.

You better find your own…because this one here…it belongs to us.

Fighting down frustration mixed with a certain level of fear, Solar searched for anything she could offer as bargaining chip. Was there anything she could say? Was there any intervention to implement that would stop her sled from being carried away by this group of bullies? It seemed, no. In the end, she watched them leave, and there was nothing she could do. Suddenly, the snowflakes fluttering through the air felt more like sharp ice droplets, the sledding hill a muddy landslide. Downtrodden, she turned to go home, empty handed.

She just needed to find Seelye.

Her eyes scanned the perimeter.

But she couldn’t find her.

A quick jolt of fear filled her pallet.

Where had Seelye gone?

Solar continued looking all around. In the process, her vision swept over the hillside until it landed with an angry thud on the group of pilfering kids that had, by then, reached the top of the incline. All three were piled on top of her crate, preparing for the descent. Even as the back of her mind remained in search mode for Seelye, she watched the trio as they flew down the slope. Having so much fun. Having the time of their lives with her sled.

The moment she found Seelye and the moment she watched the group of thieves as they flew awkwardly through the air, spiraling, and landing with an ungainly blow, faces to the ground, bodies contorted and tangled—was one in the same.

It was the same moment that she realized her younger sibling—fragile little Seelye—had reached out a small foot covered in an oversized rubber boot to trip the makeshift bobsled that was picking up speed as it went. The result was Solar’s abandoned crate, which Seelye had promptly taken ahold of. Calmly toting it along next to her hip, she began walking in Solar’s direction. Behind her, the disreputable youths lay stunned, and injured in the snow, trying to figure out their situation.

Seelye, Solar’s expression said as her younger sibling reached her side. What were you thinking? Those youths were big, and the sled was coming so fast. And you—you are so small. You could have been really hurt. Or worse! And I— Solar wiped an unexpected drop of liquid from her nearly frozen lashes. —I am so proud of you.

Seeylye’s eyes answered the admonition wearing a spark of adoration and satisfaction.

In silence, they walked the rest of the way back to their flat, sled in tow.

A couple days later, Solar woke with all of the bones in her body aching. It hurt to move. Her first thoughts were about the spill she had taken on the sledding hill. Maybe she had injured something. But when she tried to take a deep breath and felt as though her lungs might explode, she strongly suspected it was something more. That thing she had heard her parents discussing at the dinner table. That terrible sickness that was going around the FAED. Spreading like wildfire—causing lots of students to miss time at the academy. That word, that when spoken of, had always put in her mind the idea of birds soaring through the air. Except for the way it was spelled. F-L-U instead of F-L-E-W.

It turned out she was right.

It wasn’t long before fever set in and chills wracked her body. For a good seventy-two hours. Hunkered down in her covers, Solar thrashed, shivered, and sweated through day and through night. Often the only sounds that woke her were the padding of footsteps coming and going from her room. Mom and Dad. Bringing in more ice packs or a strong elixir that was pressed to her lips. Her world, it seemed, was in a swirl of disorientation. Sleep—stirring briefly—sleep—waking up for a few minutes—and then more sleep again. The only constant was Seelye. The presence that never left her room—that was never far from her side.

It was Seelye whose hands held a temperate clothe to her forehead. That adjusted her pillow. That hummed a quiet tune when the flailing would begin again. That Solar would wake up to in the deepest part of night. Would often find sitting in a chair at bedside, expression illuminated by the light of the moon shining through the window.

Seelye, Solar had attempted to whisper in a sick, raspy voice one particular evening, during a bout of lucidity. Go back to bed…you are tired. Your eyes are sleepy. You’re too little to be—

Shhhhh, Seelye had interrupted. And with very little coaxing, Solar had drifted back to sleep, while Seelye continued to stay.

Fever-ravaged, often Solar would dream during the course of the flu bug. Of water facets running—filling a sink that spilled into a large, winding river. And she wanted to swim endlessly. Of a small patch of grass behind the flat stretching and elongating, until it became a large open field. And she wanted to run for miles. Of a