Gabriela didn’t mind the dark all too much. She’d gotten used to such things back in Guatemala. Blackouts had been frequent throughout the neighbourhood and as such the people had quickly adapted. They would roam the streets, flashlights, or rusty old oil lamps in hand, ensuring that everyone was ok and had whatever they needed. Even before the storm, Gabi would be out helping. She would find herself handing out blankets or food, side by side with her mother, along with many of the other women from their street. It was only natural that she continued this role even after everything that had happened. She was proud to. Now she had the power to do more.
She would patrol the peripheral of the block, scaring off would-be looters with a single flash of her axe. She would accompany those sent to collect a new diesel generator from one of the neighbouring streets. She would protect them.
Gabi didn’t mind of course. She enjoyed it in fact. It was nice to watch everyone come together to help one another. To watch everyone laugh and sing in the warm glow of whatever Lightsource they could get going.
Such traditions didn’t to be as prevalent in the States. Instead of the comforting togetherness, she was used to, the Penthouse had descended into silence as its lights blackened. Gabi didn’t mind all that much. She had come to expect these differences in behaviour during the two weeks she had been here. It had been a struggle at first, but soon she had adjusted, just as she had on the numerous other occasions her life had been shifted. It seemed that adjusting came naturally now.
On this occasion, she found herself nestled in her bed, a book in her hand. Her room was still illuminated, one half from a dimly lit scented candle that she had found here upon arrival, the other from her axe. It lay to her side, letting out a deep purple glow, that gave her just enough light to read the words on the page before her. Lugging that thing around everywhere she went was another thing she had adjusted to.
The only thing she had not gotten used to yet was the temperature. Seattle was cold. Especially for someone who lived so close to the equator. It was only made worse by the power outage, as already the temperature in the Penthouse had dropped so much that she needed the duvet from her bed wrapped around her entirely.
She let out a huge sigh of relief as a low hum rang out around her, signalling the return of the power, her prayers answered. The warm glow of the candle and axe found itself overwhelmed by the bright white of the bulbs above her head, as the sound of Spanish singing from her radio erupted around her as it regained its life.
A smile now on her face, she slipped a crumpled old photograph between the pages of her book as she closed it shut, before rising to her feet. She was dying to socialise and expected that now that they were not shrouded in darkness, the others in the rooms around her would be too. Pulling a cardigan around her with one hand, she grabbed the handle of her axe before venturing out into the corridor, already hearing a number of her teammates stirring around her.
In no time at all she found herself descending the stairs to the second floor, where the Penthouse’s communal areas were situated, with her heading straight towards the door to the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks however halfway up the corridor when a familiar voice in the room ahead met her ears.
Cece.
She held her breath slightly, despite being too far from the room for any of the inhabitants within to actually hear her. While she had come seeking social interaction, this was an interaction that she’d rather not have at this moment. She didn’t want a camera shoved in her face just yet. Shaking away the small feeling of guilt she felt, Gabi turned from the kitchen, directing her movement to the entrance to the lounge instead.
The lounge distracted her thoughts entirely but did little to lift her spirits. Instead, she now felt guilty for a different reason. Despite having been at the Penthouse for some time now, she still marvelled every time she entered this room. Sleek and modern, the room was huge. An entire family or 2 from her neighbourhood could have lived comfortably in a space like this.
She found herself moving towards the window, which spanned the entirety of one of the walls. From here she could look down on the whole of Seattle, the people moving below like ants. She remembered being back home and looking up at the skyscrapers in Guatemala City. Is that how she had looked to the people living in them there? Like a mere insect?
The sound of movement behind her as someone entered the room snapped her out of her thoughts.
“
Evening.” She said, putting on a smile as she turned towards them.
Sep