Atomic Galaxy: Solar System II
Planet 16: Zulia's Prologue
Zulia sat in front of the TV drowning in boredom. The silence that filled her house was almost eerie, save for the soft sounds of the TV. After changing the channel more times that she could count and possibly viewing almost every channel in the universe, if that was even possible, she turned off the TV, wondering how long she had sat there lost in boredom. There was nothing good on, or rather nothing caught her attention at the moment.
She sighed, got up from the couch and walked around the house. She was the only one there, the house felt so empty sometimes. Sparky was always out on a mission or hanging out with Betty and X-5. She knew her son cared for her very much, but he wasn't around as much as he used to be. It was a rare occasion when he would come and stay for a few hours, actually spending time with her, rather than coming to eat and leaving right after, or going straight to his room, after a quick stop at the kitchen, to sleep after a tiring mission.
Zulia now stood in the kitchen, wondering if she should cook something. Cooking was one of her favorite hobbies, but Sparky had mentioned something about having dinner with his friends. He wouldn't be here, and cooking for herself alone wasn't as fun. She decided to continue walking around the house, hoping that she would see something that would give her an idea about what to spend her time on.
Zulia walked by an old photo of her husband, may he rest in peace. She still had Sparky, but even if she tried to stay strong for the boy, even if she did all she could to always be there for him, and she was, she had to admit that she missed her husband very much. She remembered how she used to cook for him all the time, he loved her cooking. Maybe it was Martian nature to like food, since they had four stomachs, but Zulia's husband always told her that her cooking was special.
Letting out another deep breath, Zulia continued her walk, she still had no idea what she would do for the rest of the day. She could go to the mall, but somehow she didn't feel up to it. What was she going to do at the mall? Visit the stores? She knew every item sold there by memory from the many times she had been there. The employees knew her by name already. She had also, in a failed attempt to cure boredom, read every catalog she got in the mail and knew what item would be coming to what store on what date. There was nothing new to look at in the mall.
She could always sit in that bench next to the indoor fountain and watch people walk by with bags filled with their recent purchases. So happy, so full of life, so not bored like she was. They walked by in the company of their friends or family, smiling as they looked at the different stores. "Where should we go now?" One would ask. "Where do you want to go?" The other would answer the question with another question. Then they would exchange opinions; clothing, electronics, sports, arcade, movie theater. They would come to an agreement and head off to the place they decided to visit; always together.
She could go to that ice-cream shop instead. Then she would sit there all day enjoying her ice-cream or at least trying to. She would watch as people came in and out of the shop. Some wanted a big bowl of ice-cream while others only wanted a small cone. There was ice-cream in all the colors of the rainbow and more. Sprinkles, syrup, fruits and all sorts of foods accompanied the ice-cream, arranged in balls, popsicles or shaped like animals that would have to be eaten quickly before they melt and come apart. There was the classic upside down ice-cream cone with the face of a clown, there was a variety of ice-cream cakes in every flavor and then there was that ice-cream named after a day of the week. Monday was it, or Saturday, or Sunday, or was it Friday? All days felt the same for Zulia lately.
She could go outside and watch people walk by in groups or stay at home bored, hoping someone would stop by. They always walked in groups, or in couples, in the company of friends, or family, or someone. Maybe that's what she needed, someone to keep her company while Sparky was out on his missions or with his friends; someone that was there with her all the time. Someone like her husband used to be... No one could replace him, but maybe there was a chance that someone could fill that empty space, but who? How could she find him?
