I stared at the small house… unassuming. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. Siska placed her hand on my back.
"If you aren't ready yet sir…" she whispered softly.
"I've put it off long enough." I replied as I dug my keys from my pocket. I nodded to the few soldiers Siska had guarding the place as I walked up to the front door.
My hand trembled a bit before I unlocked the door. I pushed it open, the screen rattling a bit as I did. My breath caught for a second. I swallowed it and stepped inside.
Just the way I'd left it that morning when I left for work. The row of pictures hanging on the wall, my half finished now moldy plate of eggs. The dishes in the sink from the night before. I grabbed the plate from the table, dropping its contents in the trash as I started washing the dishes.
I toweled them off and put them in the drying rack. Siska and Tanya were sitting at the table, watching me with troubled expressions. "Coffee?"
They shook their heads. I sighed as I dragged one of the seats back and collapsed into it. I looked around the living room. The two small couches, the silent tv. My gaze stopped as I stared at the door to our room.
"I'm sorry sir… I don't think it is for the best if you stay here yet." Tanya slowly apologized.
"I'll… be fine." I replied.
"Sir, it's probably not a good idea…" Siska said.
"No. I'm staying here… in my home." I insisted quietly. Staring at some of the pictures of us, her brilliant smile. I heard a knock at the door, Tanya shot up and headed over. I heard some hushed conversation before she came back with Regina. The new visitor had a glass tray with tin foil over it.
"Sir, I figured you might not want to make food…" I sighed, chuckling sadly to myself.
"You didn't have to, but thank you Regina, I appreciate the gesture." I stood and walked back to the kitchen, grabbing plates and utensils. She smiled brilliantly as I laid out the table. She uncovered the tray.
"I made pierogi, the most hearty meal." She said while giving everyone a serving. Steam oozed from the food. I sighed, thinking back to… a my eyes turned watery as I ate.
"Sir? I'm sorry… I… I'll get rid of it…" Regina sputtered, worriedly reaching for my plate.
"No. It's… it's good. I just had a memory… come back to me." I said, glancing at the kitchen, watching myself and Veria playfully tease each other while she cooked.
"Oh… thank you." She replied, slowly sitting again. I ate in silence, mostly tuning out the conversation the three of them had. I focused on keeping myself together. I'd fallen apart enough these last few days. The world wasn't going to wait on my misery.
"Regina, how's Vegas progressing?" I asked.
She glanced at her compatriots. "My army is encircling and reinforcing their positions. Though progress into the city remains glacial, scout teams are often forced back before they can get close to the suspected nests."
I nodded, repressing a frown as I took seconds from the tray. I glimpsed Regina trying to suppress a smile. "Tanya, the influx to your command hasn't affected supplies?"
"No sir, I've had the logistical divisions take over a district each. It's probably even smoother than before, but I'd have to go inspect the process at the ground level to see what other improvements can be made…" she replied.
Siska stood, gathering the plates as everyone finished, taking them to the sink. "Sir, sit. I can do this."
"After abusing your generosity for so long, I don't think I'll let you." I replied, positioning myself between her and the sink, reaching for the dirtied dishes.
She pulled them back, a frown on her face. "Sir, go relax."
"Oh the both of you…" Tanya swiped the dishes and slipped around me. She shook her head as she rolled up the sleeves of her uniform. I frowned slightly, taking and drying the offered dishes.
Regina was placing what was left in the fridge, and Siska reluctantly left to clean the table. I finished with everything, walking over to one of the couches and plopping down. I grabbed the remote, turning on the channel. The news started, reports on the rebuilding efforts in San Francisco and Bakersfield. That was followed by an ad from the premier.
"It's insulting that he thinks he even has a chance." Regina quipped, leaning against the back of my couch as Tanya sat on the other. I looked around, it seemed Siska had wandered down the hall.
"He won't…" Tanya smirked, chuckling softly.
"How are you so sure?" Regina asked.
"Aside from the fact he's facing the commander?" Siska reappeared, a small notebook in hand. She passed me the notebook as she sat next to me like it was natural. I felt a sort of tension in the air…
"The premier angered the military, he won't get any votes from us, I doubt even a single percentage point…" Siska smiled slightly, casting a glance at Regina and Tanya.
"It's simpler than that… to vote you need to present a citizen or military ID… the office of records has only issued a bit shy of seven hundred thirty thousand.."
"That's… the hell have they been doing? The Union is home to over twenty million people." Tanya grumbled.
"The military is well over two million… so unless Merida gets his head out of his ass…" I trailed off. I opened the notebook, inside was my wife's neat handwriting.
I bit my lip as I read the first few pages. I chuckled a bit. Putting the notebook down. I'll read the rest later.