WebNovelLove Seed83.93%

Existing

Thanh's eyes were the same color and shape as his daughter's, but his held a vacant anger instead of Thana's calm keenness. He absentmindedly scratched the unkept scruff on his face, and I realized he was the first person I had seen in this pod with facial hair. For a moment he looked lost as he searched my face. Feeling awkward, I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it didn't seem to help.

"Thanh," Geo called in an attempt to get his attention. "Thanh, it is Geo." He took Thanh's hand in his, and the contact was what brought him back. Recognition softened the anger in Thanh's eyes, but only for a moment. "Did you get my message that we were coming today?" Geo asked.

Thanh looked away bitterly and shook his head. I looked between the two men and tried to figure out what was happening. Geo's lips rolled in with frustration, but his eyes showed pain as he slowly sighed.

"I am sorry for not coming these past few days," Geo said carefully. "Thana, Marea and I had an emergency that we needed to take care of."

Thanh let out a dark chuckle. "That is not what you should be apologizing for," he said sharply. Geo tensed, but his body language told me that they had had this argument many times before.

"I brought her," Geo said, trying to change the topic. "I brought the Ancient One."

Thanh snapped his attention to Geo, the look of disbelief clear on his face. "You did it?" he asked, a slow smile spreading across his face. Geo returned it warmly.

"I did it," he confirmed. Thanh looked back at me in awe. "Thanh, meet Flora of Earth."

His unabashed staring made me a little nervous, and without thinking I extended my hand for a handshake. Both Geo and Thanh looked at the gesture curiously, and I quickly pulled my hand back to my side. "I'm sorry. It's an old Earth custom," I said with a nervous laugh.

Thanh smiled widely and laughed, and I noticed a lucidness in his eyes that wasn't there before. "Do not be sorry. How is it done?"

Once I realized he was serious I put my hand out again. "We clasp our right hands and move it up and down. A handshake," I said. With his left hand, Thanh picked up his right arm and brought our hands together. I tried to cover up my surprise with a smile as I grasped his hand and began to shake.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself, making me wonder why we did this back on Earth. Something about checking for weapons? After a moment I released his hand, and he settled his arm across his lap.

"How did you do it?" Thanh asked Geo excitedly, not once looking away from me.

"It is a long story," Geo said with a laugh, "but it would not have been possible without you."

"Yes, thank you so much," I said earnestly.

"Do not mention it. It is good to know I can still be useful," he said sadly. The vacantness began to return to his face, and I couldn't help but wonder what happened to him.

Geo must have noticed it as well and quickly spoke. "You are not done being useful yet. Flora has been assigned to the terraform project, and she needs some old Earth documents."

Thanh perked up a bit after that. "What sort of documents?" he asked me.

"Manuals on the deep freezer, anything on soil or microbes, geology books," I asked, my voice laced with hope and some doubt. Thanh took a moment to ponder my request.

"I might have something," he said at last as he rose stiffly from his chair. "It will take me some time to gather it." He placed his right arm in a sling before shuffling down a hallway I hadn't noticed before.

"Should we help him?" I whispered to Geo.

Geo merely shook his head. "He needs this." There was a smile on his face despite his sad tone.

I looked around at the trash and filth, and it made my heart ache knowing he was living like this. "What happened to him?" I finally asked.

"A blood clot in the brain," Geo said with a sigh. "The first one happened several years ago, but he recovered fairly well. It was easier to hide. This last one paralyzed his arm and made his memory even worse." He looked away from me guiltily. "I did not mean for him to live like this."

I could see the stress and guilt on his face, and it made my heart clench. I placed my hand on his arm, my thumb rubbing soothing circles to try and comfort him. He placed his hand over mine and let out a deep sigh, and we stood that way for a moment.

"Can't someone help you all? To help you clean or cook or something?" I asked.

Geo shook his head firmly. "No one can know about this. No one can see him in this state."

"Why?" I asked incredulously, unable to understand why no one else could help.

"Because he is so weak," Geo snapped. "He is not able to do as much or move as quick. It is highly likely that he will be sent away or killed if they see him like this!" My eyes widened from shock at his outburst, and what he said horrified me.

"They would kill him?" I asked in surprise.

Geo closed his eyes as he began to calm down. "It would be a mercy killing. Arca can only support those who can contribute back." I was appalled by the lack of compassion, but I couldn't rightly criticize. I did not know all of their struggles and the decisions they had to make.

I looked around the filthy apartment once again with a new perspective. This was Thanh's whole universe. "So it is only you, Thana, and Marea that come here?"

Geo nodded. "When we can," he whispered with shame. At that moment I made a decision and picked up the dirty dishes alongside the chair.

Geo gently grabbed my arm and looked at me. "What are you doing?"

"Helping," I said as I looked back at him with a soft smile.

After some time we finally got the apartment clean, and I leaned against the dining table with relief. Geo looked around the space with a smile. It was as if his spirit had been lifted. We were both tired and proud of our efforts, and when his gaze met mine I held it. He took a step closer to me and looked down tenderly at me.

"Thank you, Flora," he said softly.

"There is no need to thank me. It was the right thing to do," I said, a slight blush creeping on my face.

"People do not always do what is right. This meant a lot to me," he said sincerely, his eyes never leaving mine. It felt as if I was being drawn to him, and when he he wrapped me in a hug I didn't flinch or step away. Instead I leaned into him and closed my eyes, enjoying his warmth. I let out a slow sigh and could feel the stress melt away from my body. I could have let him hold me forever, but soon after I could hear the shuffling of documents coming from the hallway.

Geo quickly stepped away from me and I cleared my throat before looking toward the hallway to find Thanh with an armful of documents.

"I found some things!" he said excitedly before stopping mid-step, his eyes glancing between Geo and I. His eyes narrowed on Geo and I held my breath.