Wasteland

VII

"Thank you, Rosa." I grin at her and look over at Ray. "Rayna." I nod. "Do you think we could talk for a second?"

Ray nods, standing up. "I'll be right back." She mutters to Rosa, following me out.

"So I understand that you're best friends with my mother now?" She asks, looking down at her feet. Her boots shuffle together.

"I made sure she was okay, just like I promised. I don't break my promises."

She hums under her breath. "So how old are you?"

"Twenty-one."

"Wow, I didn't realize you were that much older than me." She says.

"Three years isn't that bad."

"Are your government buddies throwing you a huge party or something?"

"Nope, I was actually going to spend my birthday with my own mother but they scheduled me to work."

"Oh," Ray nods and then there's awkward silence. I scratch the back of my neck, unsure what to say now. "So thank you, for keeping an eye on her. She told me you were with her almost every day. At first, she couldn't remember your name. She just said there was a really nice guard so I thought it couldn't possibly be you. But then she said the guard had a really nice smile and I knew."

I grin down at her. "Are you flirting me, Ray?"

She snickers. "Don't flatter yourself, grandpa."

"I've liked the time I've spent with her. I'll continue to keep an eye on her, alright? You don't have to worry about her here. I won't let anything happen to her. Not as long as I'm around."

"Thank you, Officer."

"Max. I never get called by my first name. It's always Riley or Officer. So, please, just call me Max."

"Okay, Max." She whispers. "I just want you know that I do trust you. Which is strange because I never trust anyone. But I care about my mother more than I care about myself and I was terrified last week that at any moment, something could happen to her. People like you hate people like me and Rosa. But not you. And I know you value your job but you do care about your people and you care about doing the right thing for everyone. It's hard not to trust someone like that."

I take an involuntary step forward. "I trust you too."

"I haven't given you a reason to."

"You haven't given me a reason not to." I reply. "And I'm looking out for you. You don't belong in that village, Ray."

"There's an open bed in the shelter right now and I'm completely prepared to arrive home and find someone waiting to take me away."

"They're not going to, trust me. That's now how it works. That I can promise you."

"You make so many promises."

I smirk. "You'll just have to trust me."

Ray smiles and nods. "I'm going to go back inside. But I hope you have a nice birthday."

"I'll see you soon, Ray." I really hope I do.

I stay outside of the room even after Ray goes in. "I like him." Rosa whispers to her. "I think you do too."

"It's dangerous, Rosa." I wonder why she calls her mother by her first name. "Now be quiet and eat your breakfast."

I walk down the hall with a smile on my face.

--

"Do you realize," Mom says on the phone that night. "that this is the first birthday I've spent without my son? Mothers are supposed to spend birthdays with their children, Maxwell."