Blind Sky

I put on jogging gear, a sports bar, tight stretch pants, and head outside my neighborhood for a jog before class begins.

The air is moist, dewy and a bit muggy from the rain. I pick up speed from a power walk to an evenly pace jog, and forgot how much I enjoy running. The rush is exhilarating though my breathing is abnormally heavy thinking how awful it is, considering I use to run miles with no problems. I slow down to a light jog and the weight of my thighs and legs are heavy.

I swallow the little remaining salvia down my throat and remain committed to my jog, ignoring the heat evaporating from my mouth. I continue my jog to the end of the block, and hear pounding footsteps thumping in my ear. The steps are closer than necessary which makes me suspicious. I shift to the edge of the side walk to leave open room for passing, but no one passes, and the footsteps get louder.

Other people are around, not a lot but a few scattered about. Without being too obvious, I bend down pretending to tie my shoe to get a glimpse of the person, and the guy wearing a long sleeved shirt, basketball shorts, and bright sneakers addresses me.

“Enjoying the jog,” the husky voice says. “Sky right?” The tall slender guy smiles at me.

“Remember me from Logue training.”

“Right, Lawrence.”

“Yes. How have you been?” and gives me a hug.

“Good. How about you?”

“Took a job with Australian government, I’m an Australian guard now.”

“That’s good.”

“Still working at Logue?”

“Yes,” hoping to sound polite. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Of course, I’m sorry,” then hands me a small envelope with my name on it.

“Who gave this to you?”

“Some guy approached me at the parking lot on campus yesterday, and asked that I give this to you.”

“What did this guy look like? Did he give a name?”

“No, he didn’t and he was wearing a hat and dark clothes and sunglasses. I don’t know who he is. They gave me instructions not to open and explained you were upset with him and he just wanted an opportunity to get this to you.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Not really, but there was something else I wanted to say.” He coughs a little clearing his throat. “I’ve wanted to talk to you since training at Logue,” and an uncomfortable twist ignites in my stomach.

“I don’t mean to pry too much, but are you seeing anyone?”

“No I’ am not,” and I’m aggravated, but I can’t take it out on him.

“Okay. Well I was wondering if…if you wanted to go to dinner or something?” He says awkwardly.

“That’s very flattering of you to ask, but I’m not in a space to date anyone right now.”

“Oh I see,” he says disappointedly. “Well, see you around sometime then.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Bye Sky, it was nice chatting with you.”

“Bye Lawrence.”

I open the envelope reading the note inside.

Stay away from Galen and abort the mission.

Whoever wrote the note is making it a point to try and scare me. But what’s concerning is that they know about the mission.

“Sky…Sky,” a voice shouts. “Over here,” Derek gestures pulling up next to the curb.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Get in,” he requests.

“No, I’ll jog the rest of the way. It’s not much further down.”

“Sky please, get in the car. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Now that I have you here, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Guilt takes over for not returning his phone calls, so I climb into the SUV.

“Finally, took long enough,” he says irritatingly.

“Sorry,” I mumble, though I’m preoccupied by the warning.

“Sky, are you alright? I mean I know not really, but you know what I’m trying to say.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I say staring out the window as he pulls into my driveway.

“I hate when you act like this,” hearing the concern in his voice.

“Derek I really don’t want to discuss it. Thanks for the ride.”

He looks at the note wrapped in my hand and jumps out the truck.

“That’s it,” he shouts slamming the door. “Sky, at some point you have to talk about this,” he says with frustration.

“Look Sky, I know you’re involved in another mission,” he yells with bitterness. “When are you going to stop? The war is over. Let it go.”

Derek knew me better than anyone, but it’s even difficult to confess to him I did not have a plan for the future. I’m not one of those people who knew what they wanted to do with the rest of their life, nor did I have an inkling what my dream job is. I’m not an up and coming architect like him, or a rising fashion designer like Misty. All I know is, after my first mission, I found something I was good at, and succeeded at.

“Sky, you don’t have to tell me, I already know. You can fool most, but not me. I just don’t understand after all we’ve been through why you would go back there. Come on, you gotta know better than this. You’re a pawn for them. They want you to do all the dirty work they are too coward to do themselves,” he shouts angrily.

“Stop,” I snap back, frustration clumping inside my chest. “I know you’re concerned and I appreciate it, but it doesn’t change how I feel. I have my reasons.”

“I can’t believe this,” he snips with disgust. “Why do you want to keep doing this? There are so many other things you can do? Trust me Sky; they need you more than you need them.”

“That’s not true Derek, they’ve helped me. Without them I wouldn’t be as good as I am now. I am good at this, and they need me.”

“You’re unbelievable,” and he’s glaring at me. “If I didn’t care about you as much as I do, I would walk away from you right now. I can’t stand here and listen to you anymore,” he says in a harsh tone, and I can’t look at him, it’s too painful.

“Do you want more enemies coming after you like they did on your birthday? What about what happened to your mother? She thought they could protect her. Sky, you know this.”

My knees buckle, tremble and shake, and although my feet are planted on the ground, my legs almost give in.

“They knew there were targets after her because of her affiliation with the agency. They should have protected her better. Where were they? Why did they not protect her like they should have?” he barks.

“Derek stop it, stop it,” I yell folding my fists at my side. My entire body aches with pain, rage imploding inside shackling me with the memory.

I drop my hands to my side, though my teeth are binding together, my lips flaring with anger as I try to speak without charging at him.

“They are not the enemy or the ones that killed my mom,” I yell.

******

The words pound in my head, repeating over and over again and I want everything to stop, but it doesn’t.

I replay everything Derek said, and find myself doodling on a piece of paper.

“Good Morning everyone,” Dr. Griffin greets the class.

He opens his brief case on the desk, scanning the room. “Glad you can make it Mr. Amadeo,” surveying Galen just walking in.

“Good Morning Dr. Griffin,” he replies taking the seat next to me.

“Morning,” he says.

“Morning,” I muster.

“You sketch?”

“Sometimes.”

“Can I see?”

“Sure,” tossing my hair back, sliding the paper over to him.

“This is really good,” he comments just above a whisper. “Really impressive.”

“It’s not much, just killing time.”

“Aa hmm…” Dr. Griffin voices clearing his throat. “Is there something you care to share with the class?” he questions staring at both of us with a vigilant glance.

“Sorry,” I say apologetically.

“My apologies Dr. Griffin, she wasn’t talking, I was.” And eyes are all on me, catching one of the girls seated in the front row commentary.

“What’s so special about her?”

“I don’t know,” shrugs another girl seated next to her. And Galen glances over at me and smiles.

“Now if you don’t mind, I would like to get on with the lecture,” Dr. Griffin says.

I try my best to pay attention making a feeble attempt to concentrate on the lecture, but my notes are just scribbled writing. Dr. Griffin’s words become muted and insignificant as he rambles on about compliance and authority policies.

“Class dismissed. And don’t forget to begin your reading assignments. We will have a short quiz next week, so I suggest you get started over the weekend,” Dr. Griffin shouts.

I’m delighted for the end of class, throwing my binder and notebook into my bag when Galen grabs my attention.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes, I am okay,” answering with apprehension.

“You seemed sort of distracted in class,” and ordinarily this would be the perfect time to strike up a conversation with him, but I’m still distracted by the conversation Derek and I had earlier.

“You should get that.” I answer my phone that’s vibrating. “See you next week,” he says on the way out the door.

“Hi Mist.”

Misty laughs. “Why are you out of breath?”

“I don’t know, fatigued I guess.”

“Well,” she says. “Do you want to meet up for lunch?”

“Sure, I don’t have to work today. I’m free.”

“Great. I want to go to this cuisine infused restaurant. I’ll text you directions.”

“What time?”

“It should only take about ten minutes to get there,” she says.

“Sure, okay.”

“Okay, see you then.”

Misty wastes no time when we get to the restaurant.

“By the way, I’m glad you decided to give College a try. And please tell me, you’ve spoken to that hot guy in your class.”

“What guy are you talking about?”

Her mild giggle gives away to some thought or scheme she seems to have lurking.

“Don’t act like you didn’t notice. The same guy from Logue Tadao brought in for our fight training. I saw him strolling into your class on my way to the registration office the first day, and he’s as hot as I remember.”

“I’ll be sure to tell him you remember him.”

“Oh please, like you didn’t. He’s attractive, you’re attractive. It’s only natural. Have some fun Sky. Go on a date, see what’s out there.”

“I have and I’m not interested,” I laugh.

“Come on, you’re not even being open or flexible. You have to give a little to get what you want. Come on, don’t be upset with me, it’s not my fault I just happen to know these things.”

“I’m not in the market to be entertaining anyone.”

“Well you should reconsider and get out there.”