“Why?”
Aru glared at him. “I quit.”
“Oof. You’re kinda young to give up.”
“Yeah, well, it’s complicated. I didn’t…” Aru paused. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“Ah!” said the driver. “Well, that’s always an easy solve.”
“Excuse me?”
“Want to hear my life secret?”
Aru mumbled, “Not really,” but the driver went on anyway.
“You just gotta show up…and let go.”
Aru blinked. “What?”
“Good motto, right?” said the driver, laughing to himself. “Just think about it. We all have a role in life. Maybe we’re someone’s sibling or spouse, a teacher or a parent, a ruler or a warrior. And with that comes a duty to show up for the situations life throws at you! After that, you do your best and let everything else go. The outcome?Pfft. Not your problem. People’s opinions? Not the point! When you go home and look in the mirror, it’syourface you’ve got to look at. No one else’s.”
Aru sat still. She had never thought about it like that. All this time, she’d been worried about what people expected from her, what they would think of the things she did or didn’t do. But what abouther? What about whatshethought was right?
Granted, she didn’t even know what that looked like, specifically…but maybe she’d figure it out if she just, well, showed up. Aru’s heart raced. In the back of her head, something buzzed and sparked as an idea took shape. Thunder growled outside.
“Although being possessed would complicate that wholelook-in-the-mirrorthing….I mean, would you evenseeyour own face?” mused the driver. “Or would it be this creepy Sith Lord cosplayer—”
“Stop,” said Aru.
“Rude!” said the driver.
“I meant the car!” said Aru.Mostly…
“Here?”asked the driver. “Kinda busy street. Folks may not like that.”
Aru’s heart was racing. “Turn around! Please. I changed my mind!”
What had she been thinking? What could she possibly have done at the museum?Broodindefinitely?
Aru couldn’t stand the thought ofnot knowingwhat would happen. If she could find a way to be at the battle, then she might still have some part to play in it.
The driver made another turn. It was impossible to tell how far they’d traveled. Outside, the rain slashed at the windows.
“No can do, kiddo,” said the driver, tapping the screen affixed to his air-conditioning vents. “Gotta listen to the nav.”
Aru sat up a little straighter. “Ireallyneed to go back.”
“Why?”
“I…I left something behind!”
“I’m sure you can replace it.”
“No!” said Aru, frantic now. “Ican’t.”
“It can’t be that important,” said the driver.
“Yes, itis,” said Aru, grinding her teeth.
