Ravens of Eternity

195 Hard Goodbyes

Eva sat in front of the terminal aboard the Spirit of Amelia and chatted with her grandparents. Everyone else left her alone for privacy, or had contracts they needed to fulfil, or simply kept their distance. Regardless, they were all far beyond earshot.

“You two are looking great!” she told her grandparents.

“Oh Evie,” said her Grandma, “you’ve always been such an awful liar.”

Eva choked down her sadness and forced a smile as she looked at them through the screen. They looked worse every time they got into a call, and it had gotten to a point where it became unbearable for her.

Sticking out of her Grandma’s nose were tubes that lead to a portable oxygen tank just off to the side, almost out of view. And when she moved, her arms shook from advanced palsy.

“Okay, fine,” Eva said. “But at least your COPD isn’t getting much worse. At least, from the last time we chatted.”

“Oh, the equipment sure does help,” said Grandma. “But they’re not gonna magically undo decades of smoking. Guess I kinda messed up a bit, huh?”

“Don’t look at me,” said her Grandpa. “Told you for years you needed to stop.”

As always, he was right next to Grandma. And just like her, he too was slowly disintegrating in front Eva.

.....

His eyes had become cloudier and cloudier every time she saw him. His sight had degenerated to a point where all he could see now were fuzzy colors and shapes. Thanks to that, he very often bumped into everything, which left more than a few bruises on his body.

On top of that, all his senses had diminished greatly as well, and he needed a hearing aid just to talk to anyone. His taste and smell had all but disappeared as well.

“I know, I know,” said Grandma. “I should’ve listened more. Too late now, though. All too late.”

She glanced back at Eva, who had darkened greatly from the conversation. At some point her smile leapt off her face, and was replaced by pure gloom.

“Now young woman,” said Grandma, “you take that frown off your face this instant. Things aren’t looking so good for us now, sure. But your Grandpa and I have had long and good lives together.”

Eva forced back a semblance of a smile, and did her best to hold herself together. But the more her grandmother spoke, the harder she found it to hold back her tears.

For whatever reason, she didn’t want them to see her cry.

“Wanna know what the best part of our lives was?” Grandma continued. “It was when you showed up on our doorstep. Since that day, you lightened up our lives, even up ’til now.”

“Death don’t really scare us,” added Grandpa. “What does scare us is seeing you sad again, like when you first showed up.”

“Oh, Grandpa’s right. You looked so unhappy back then. Like you were at the bottom of everything. And now, everytime we see you, there’s a huge smile plastered on your face. Like you’re on top of everything.”

“Well, Grandma can see you happy. I’ll just have to take her word for it.”

Eva couldn’t help but chuckle at the two of them. They always were a cute couple. Sure they fought about this and that, but it was never harsh, and they always forgave each other. At least, over time.

Otherwise, the two of them were always there for each other. Through thick and thin, illness and health, better or worse.

“Things are better for me, yeah,” Eva said. “And I feel better about myself, too. Like, there’s nothing I can’t face in this galaxy. Nothing I can’t endure, or overcome. And I know that’s not true. I’m sure lots of things could wipe the floor with me. But I feel, I dunno, alive for once. And that feels great.”

“That’s great, Evie,” said Grandpa. “We’re glad you feel that way. Proud, in fact. Only wish we could’ve helped you somehow.”

“Oh Gramps. You’ve both helped me out since the beginning. I wouldn’t be who I am without either of you. You’re the best, both of you. And... and I love you. I’ll always love you.”

“We love you too, sweets,” said Grandma. “Never forget that.”

Grandpa nudged Grandma lightly with an elbow.

“I think it might be time for bridge,” he said.

“Oh! Oh! That’s right!” said Grandma. “Every third Friday is when the bridge club comes over to play! I’m so excited!”

Grandma clapped her hands lightly, and bounced a little in her seat.

“Anyway, it was great seeing you, Evie,” she continued. “We’ve gotta go – talk to you in two weeks!”

“Okay, see you soon,” replied Eva.

She powered through her smile with everything she had as they said their goodbyes. But once her grandparents closed the call, Eva erupted into tears. She buried her head in her hands and wept with abandon.

The lie she fed them ate at her the moment she said it. It dug right into her chest and burrowed deeply... Eva already knew she was never going to see them ever again.

Her trait told her as much.

~

Eva sat and wept in front of the terminal for who knows how long. She lost track of all time as she wandered around in her own memories, of the life she had with her grandparents. She recalled every painful and joyful memory she had with them, and savored them to the best of her abilities.

The two of them were always there for her, even when all else in her world was dark and bleak and filled with misery.

And she didn’t know when, but she knew they would both be gone soon.

The thought sent a shiver through her, and shook her heart violently.

She looked up when a chime rang on her terminal – it appeared Mack was trying to call her. So she quickly gathered herself up, dabbed her eyes, and answered. Her smile was half askew as she spoke.

“Hey Mack,” she said.

“Eva,” he replied. “You talk with your grandparents? How’d it go?”

“About as well as it could.”

“Hey, have you been crying? You’re not looking so hot.”

He had noticed the puffiness around her reddened eyes, the dampness around her cheeks.

“Gee, thanks,” she replied. “Listen, I need a favor. Actually, I need lots of favors.”

“Um, alright, sure,” he said. “Just name it. Them.”

“First, you already met Amal, right? She’s part of the Ravens now, and I’m sure she’s already sent you a bunch of footage. Anyway, she’s got family she wants to reach out to, and we need your help in tracking them down.”

“No problem. Where do they live?”

Eva scratched the back of her head.

“Well, that’s kind of the issue,” she replied. “There were eight people in her household in Syria. But once they fled, they kinda went in different directions. Her dad took her grandma and two of her brothers, while her mom took the eldest brother, her sister, and Amal herself.”

“That’s a lotta family,” said Mack. “No pets?”

“They had a cat, but she ran off when the first bombs fell.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. Anyway, her dad took off for Turkey, while her mom went straight for Greece. Mom decided to keep her half in Greece, but lost contact with dad at some point.”

To Eva’s surprise, Mack pulled aside a pen and paper, and took notes as she talked.

“So they’re probably still in Turkey and Greece then, yeah?” he asked.

“Hopefully,” she replied. “They could’ve resettled in another country altogether. She told me that lots of refugees that headed for Greece ended up in countries all over Europe. Though people who went to Turkey stayed there for the most part.”

“Think the dad and his half are still alive?”

“Amal believes he is, and I believe her.”

“No problem. Leave it to me.”

As Mack scribbled down more notes, Eva realized that he too had changed a great deal. He lost a great deal of his body fat, seemingly gained some muscle. He also cut his hair shorter, and trimmed his scruff neatly.

He hadn’t just changed – he had matured. And it was beautiful.

“You’re looking good these cycles,” Eva said. “Er, days, I mean.”

“I have?” he replied. “Well, I guess I have been trying a bit. So, thanks for noticing. I saw what you’ve been doing for yourself, and figured I could maybe do the same for myself.”

“About time.”

Mack laughed in response.

“That’s exactly what I said!” he exclaimed. “I made a few good, positive changes. Or at least I hope I did. I even got myself a girlfriend somehow, despite being such a fuckin’ wreck most of my life.”

“I’m really proud of you,” said Eva.

He blushed at her words.

“There was a time when I thought you were completely hopeless,” she continued. “That there wasn’t anything I, or anyone else, could do to shake you out of your mess.”

“Thanks, I think?” he replied. “Don’t gotta call me out that hard, though.”

Eva chuckled lightly at him.

“Honestly,” she said, “I’m glad you found someone who could help you find yourself. That’s a real treasure right there.”

“Well, truth be told,” he replied, “it was you who helped me out, you don’t even know. Had a lot of time to think, to process, while I was laid up in rehab. I thought about all the stuff you had told me before, and it all kinda sunk in deep. Without you, I’d still be a useless little asshole.”

Eva smiled deeply, but there was a hint of sadness inside it. A part of her wished that he had made that change before she was transported.

So he could’ve been here with her.

She shook the thought away. There was no longer any point in entertaining impossible ideas. But it didn’t mean she didn’t miss him. She realized she would always miss him.

Despite all the emotional abuse he had put her through in the past, there was always room for him in her heart.

“Well, no matter who, I’m glad you’re finally realizing your true self,” she told him. “Only took forever, but it’s better than never.”

.....

He blushed again, as pride swelled in her. Seeing him as he was now made her realize that his future was looking incredibly bright as well.

And that one day, somewhere far into the future, she was going to watch his life end. Then she shook off the thought as quickly as she could.

With luck, she told herself, it’ll be a long time until I gotta face that.

“So the channel’s making everyone a good bit of money, yeah?” she asked.

Mack brightened when she changed the subject. He was never very good with his emotions, and things started to get a bit dicey there. He was close to bailing out.

But now he could talk about easy stuff, so he hopped a bit in his seat with excitement.

“Yeah, definitely!” he exclaimed. “All the Bellum Vids – that’s the term they use, not mine – they’re just soaring in popularity. People everywhere are just eating up the videos, and not just ours. Makes our channel enough for everyone to get by though.

“Everyone’s rent is paid. Utilities, food, blah blah blah. All paid. And of course insurance and medical stuff. That’s definitely paid out for your grandparents.”

“Good,” said Eva. “Now I need that second favor from you.”

“Name it.”

“Can you make their lives as comfortable as you can now? Spare no expense, that sort of thing. New fridge? Buy it. One of those old people scooters? Cha-ching. Vacay to the Philippine Islands? Don’t even hesitate.”

Mack grimaced the moment he realized why her eyes had been so puffy earlier. His demeanor turned serious.

“They’re in their 90s now, yeah?” he said. “So I getcha. I’ll make sure everything’s good for them. You don’t ever have to worry about that.”

“Thanks,” she replied. “Really means a great deal to me. Also, I want you to start saving up for their funerals. Spare no expense there, too. Make it grand and meaningful, but not tacky.”

“That’s heavy, but yeah, I hear ya. Consider it done. Should I get them stuff like coffins and graveyard plots in a nice part of town or something? Or should I get them like a full-on mausoleum?”

“Yeah, add some secret passages and a treasure chest.”

Both of them chuckled at her joke. They both needed to lighten up considerably.

“Just a thought,” said Mack.

“Nah, nothing like that,” said Eva. “It’s all too extravagant. They’d just tell you it would all be a huge waste of time and money to get stuff like that. Go simple, like a cremation and a couple of simple urns. They’d wanna get their ashes spread out at sea, or get blasted into space or something.

“Want me to ask them directly?”

“If you can.”

Mack went back to his notes for a moment, and scribbled down their conversation some more.

“Last favor,” said Eva. “For now at least. Message me asap when things turn south for them, okay. Anything at all. The second someone dials for an ambulance, I wanna know.”

“I will, I will,” he replied. “No worries.”

“Promise me.”

“I do, damn. Chill out.”

“Say the words!”

“I promise to do all that, seriously. Can I go now, your majesty?”