“You work again tomorrow?” Lian takes the device, her hair fading from black to a muted grey.
Rafael recognizes that shade: worry or concern. His own mood dips at the thought of returning tomorrow. He masks with a quick, “Yep!” and heads for the closet across the room.
The extra pay from all this overtime is nice, but his feet are screaming. His sister Maria keeps nagging at him to replace them, but after a childhood run-in with a faulty ocular implant, he’s not about to gamble on more cyberware. Not until age forces his hand. Even then, only the latest Beta models. Six years of treating patients with failing augments have taught him one thing: anything older than VitaCorp’s Alpha line isn’t worth the risk.
He holds up a hand to the locker, and the scanner pulses yellow across his palm. As the door slides open, Lian groans from behind. “Ugh, I thought you said you wanted to get back on days.”
With his back to her, a frown tugs at Rafael’s lips. By the time he turns, jacket and bag in hand, his expression has returned to neutral. “Yeah, but they keep scheduling me thirds, so…it is what it is.”
“I guess.” She shrugs. “You could talk to Marilyn. Someone might be willing to switch. Not me, of course.” Lian chuckles. “But maybe someone else? Would be nice not having to tiptoe around the apartment. Pretty sure I woke you up this morning getting ready…”
Switching would make sense, especially if their schedules could sync up again, like back when VitaCorp first paired them as roommates. Only his mother’s words echo in his mind:Don’t take unnecessary risks.
“That’s okay,” he deflects, yet the thought won’t quite go away. Days would mean he could finally apply for those night classes at Terra Inc.
Not that he was ever serious about cooking. Three years of savings sit untouched in his account, and stepping into the professional world feels impossible. What if he crashes and burns? What if reality can’t match the fantasy? The money’s better spent upgrading his kitchen console instead.
Besides, Terra Inc. would have no reason to take him. His only experience is experimenting at home. Nursing has been his path for as long as he can remember, following his parents straight to VitaCorp. The job’s rewarding enough, more so after switching from emergency care to cybernetics.
“I’m kind of used to third anyway,” Rafael argues. Then quickly adds with a smile, “And don’t worry about this morning. I was already up.”
Lian grins. “Okay, Raffy, but you’re still coming out with us tonight, right?”
“Tonight?” Rafael blinks.
She laughs. “Don’t tell me you forgot!” She waves him off before he can protest. “Long shift, I get it.”
He exhales, relievedbut confused.
“You remember that new Premiere Group club in Midtown? Hyper Tropics?” She bounces in her seat. “Divya and Gavin mentioned it last night in V-link chat. Turns out Divya knows the bouncer, so we’re in! I texted you earlier, and since you didn’t say no, I took that as a yes!”
Rafael forces a smile. “Uh—” He hesitates. Going out to clubs isn’t really his idea of a fun night out. He’d rather spend the evening trying a new recipe or chatting about something deep, not shout over throbbing bass.
“You’re not coming?” Disappointment tightens Lian’s voice as her hair darkens to deep blue. Rafael’s chest goes tight. “You know how much I need a distraction right now…after Johnny.”
His plans for the evening vanish. Divya, Gavin, Lian—they all clearly want to go. And his roommate, coworker, and best friend of six years,needshim.
Still, a hollow weight sits in his chest. With a stable job, good friends, and a loving family, Rafael should feel complete. Yet his head is already pounding, envisioning another Thursday night glued to his wristlink at the bar, dodging synth deals and sleazy glances while his friends party.
But this isn’t about him. Whatever meal he planned to unwind with—a new spice blend from Terra’s Grocery he was eager to test, or that recipe he saw last week on V-link streams—can wait.
“I’m coming!” Rafael declares. “Of course! I just forgot.” The lie almost comes too easily. “Long shift. Like you said.”
Lian’s hair brightens. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Raffy!” She waves, her artificial arm glinting under the light at the right angle. “Now go get some sleep so you’re ready for later! Hyper Tropics! Can you believe it? Everyone who’sanyone in Midtown will be there!”
“Okay, see you later, Lian!” Rafael’s practiced smile drops the moment the door shuts. He exhales and moves down the hall.
Outside their office, the usual chaos surrounds him. Nurses rush past toward a patient’s room at the end of the hall while a boy with new limbs moves slowly in the opposite direction, learning to balance again. Rafael steps into the elevator as a medical drone streaks past, all compact efficiency and jointed limbs. He doesn’t flinch anymore. They’re faster than he is, anyway.
The hospital lobby buzzes with activity, even at this hour. Patients queue at the AI vidscreens, waiting for a real nurse, while others stare up at the glowing price lists, silently doing the math. Rafael keeps his head down, weaving past them toward the exit.
Halfway there, the ads on the ceiling shift, promoting its newest color-shifting optics. The same tech as Lian’s neural hair strands, the ones that almost cost them their apartment. He frowns. Always more cosmetic upgrades, never the bio-organs people actually need. Still, it’s what keeps him employed.
Near the exit, two VitaCorp enforcers flank the employee and patient scanner, weapons at their hips catching the lights. Rafael keeps his eyes down and moves through. There’s no reason to worry, yet their blank visors still raise a chill.
The moment he clears the threshold, his wristlink vibrates. He steps into a small vestibule and taps the device, setting the volume.
“Hey, Mom. Everything okay?” he asks as his mother’s face shimmers into a palm-sized projection above his wrist.