“Your food will be out in just a few minutes. Did you need creamer or sugar?”
Mara didn’t say anything as she watched the woman. Finally, her mother glanced over at her. Confusion then recognition crossed her face.
“Hi mom.”
“What the fuck?”
“It’s me… Mara. I found you.”
“Well, aren’t you clever. What do you want?”
“I just wanted to meet you. Have you ever wondered what happened to me?”
“If I wanted to know what happened to you, I would have gone back. I’m sure your father hasn’t moved from the old house. He wasn’t much for change.”
Mara was taken back by the emotionless tone and the clear disgust she had for her father. “He’s stayed in one place and kept a good home for us.”
“That’s great. What do you want with me? I don’t have any money.”
“I don’t need your money. I just wanted to meet you.”
“We’ve met. Now, you can leave and never come back.”
This was a nightmare. A child’s worst vision of meeting her missing parent. But she pushed through the pain of rejection. There were questions only this one could answer.
“Why did you leave?”
“I wanted more in life than having to take care of a brat and a nagging husband.”
“Do I mean nothing to you?”
“You mean less than nothing to me. Your food is probably ready.”
Mara couldn’t stay there any longer. She threw the money on the table and got up.
“I’ll leave you to your life then.”
“Good riddance.”
As she stepped out of the door, lights confused her and she suddenly faced the door to the diner. She entered and took a seat in one of the booths. The whole nightmare played out again and again.
It was like she was in some kind of a nightmare loop. Something wasn’t right. This happened years ago. She hadn’t told her father because she feared it would only hurt him. She moved past that day and the disappointment.
Mara was not in New York, she was in the games. Opening her eyes, she found herself in the field of magnetic mirrors. She wasn’t alone either.
She heard a voice that was familiar but not familiar.
“Father!”
That was Vaelor. He didn’t belong in her nightmare, but it sounded like he was having his own.
Images of the diner appeared before her again. She closed her eyes, blocking out everything that she had seen. She was in the Galactic Survivor Games. In the middle of the first challenge.The Game Master said not to trust what they saw in the challenge.
Reaching out she brushed Vaelor’s arm. He was right in front of her.
“Vaelor!”
“Go back to the settlement! This isn’t for you.”
