"Grace?" Heather asked, noticing my frozen state. "What do you think?"

I blinked, twice, as if rebooting my brain. Beyond the mix of emotions and contradictions swirling inside me, I felt happy for her. For real. It was a big step, and no matter what my circumstances were, I had to be by her side... right?

"I think it's great!" I said.

"Really?" She didn't seem entirely convinced, but a spark in her eyes told me she was excited by my response.

"Of course! And I want to help you."

"Oh, you don't have to. I don't even know where to start. It will be an adventure."

"And I want to go through it with you. If you let me, of course."

Heather's lips turned into a tiny smile and she came closer, wrapping her arms around my neck and entangling her legs around me under the water.

"Thank you." She whispered before her lips met mine. They were wet and tasted faintly of chlorine, yet they always seemed to meld with mine so smoothly and perfectly.

I slowly pulled back and took a moment to watch her. Our faces were so close that I could see every intricate detail of her turquoise pupil, a color that still felt so alien to me.

"I like how this adventure begins." I said.

"I can also tell you how it continues." Heather whispered back and her lips found mine again.

I spent the night with her that day, although I have to admit I'd lost count of how many nights I'd ended up there. Without consciously planning it, we had built a routine that felt unbreakable.

I already knew her schedule by heart, as well as her hallmates'. I knew exactly when Lea and Kate went to sleep, when they got up when they gathered in the hall to gossip about newcomers, and when they left for the weekend to visit their families. I knew the perfect moment to sneak across the hall like a ninja to get to Heather's room, without being noticed. And somehow that secret role was kind of fun, at least by now.

I learned a lot about her just by staying there and watching. She never woke up late, not once. Her schedule was sacred; that was the first thing I learned. Once her alarm went off, she was straight into work mode. She'd go through the border night report and send back her impressions if there were any. She reviewed the assignments of every Narval Officer and made changes if she thought they were needed.

She'd open the blinds, check the sky, and decide whether to take the Narval coat or not. It was funny because she relied heavily on the Reg Bracelets' predictions—which were usually spot-on—but when it came to the weather, and only the weather, she seemed to prefer trusting her instincts instead. Plus, there was always a recommendation for me: "Strong winds coming from the north today," or, "Probably some acid rain this afternoon, be careful."

But out of her entire morning routine, what I liked the most was her last step before leaving: watering her adorable family of plants. She would check the handmade watering system she had built, inspect their leaves with a tiny purple flashlight (which I had no idea what it was for), and then water them with just the right amount each needed. She did it with such precision and care that it left me hypnotized every morning, as if those plants were her lifeline.

At some point, she felt my stare and turned around.

"What?" She said, refilling her watering can.

She had already watered Gia, Lory, and Walter. On the waiting list: Renne, George, and Lotus. I'd already memorized their plant names.

"Nothing, I just think you are really cute." I said.

She left the water can and came to bed to give me a kiss. I wrapped my arms around her wrist and pushed her down, trapping her.

"No." She said firmly.

I gave her another kiss.

"I can't be late." She tried to escape from my grip. I didn't let her.

"You could just say you're sick." I kissed her neck.

"Nobody's gonna buy that. I rarely get sick. Plus, today's a special day."

"Why's that?" I asked while my fingers played with her hair. I just couldn't resist it.

"Well, I didn't want to tell you, but since you'll figure it out in a few hours..." She trailed off, letting the anticipation build.

"Spill!" I said.

"You'll be assigned at the border today." Heather said. "With me."

Her words hit me out of nowhere, and she seized the moment to escape from my arms.

"What? Really?" I said, sitting up in bed and watching her put on her dark Narval coat, which gave her a villainous vibe that had me completely obsessed.

"Really." She confirmed. "So I think you'll get really tired of me today."

"That could never happen."

"Ha. We'll see." She headed for the door, but before leaving, she turned around. "See you at the gates. Be ready for an intense day."

I smirked. "An intense day with you could be fun."

She laughed. "Don't get too comfortable with that idea. You might regret it."

She closed the door behind her, and I let my head fall back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as Heather's footsteps faded down the hall. Today was the day. My first behind-the-scenes look at the transference process. The idea of it had felt thrilling at first, like a strange kind of honor. Partnering with Heather, seeing how things really worked. But now, it was sinking in, settling deeper, then drowning me from the inside out. I'd be standing there, deciding who got to pass and who didn't. Letting some people through, looking them in the eye, while turning others away, knowing what that meant for them. A pang in my stomach. A crushing weight in my chest. My body seemed to be staging a rebellion. Keep calm, Grace.

Heather was right. It was going to be an intense day.

I came to my room to get ready for the day, ten minutes before my roommate's alarm went off. Perfect timing, as always. I tried to be quiet so I wouldn't wake them up. I'd gotten pretty good at dodging Laura's boots, which were always thrown around in any position imaginable, and jumping over Mark's sweaters, which he constantly left crumpled up in balls on the floor because he was always too cold, then too hot. The result? Three sweaters per day scattered across the floor.

When I reached my bed, a voice cut through the silence.

"Well, well, well, look who's finally back."

I turned to see Laura awake, giving me that look, eyes sharp, like a mom who's just caught her kid sneaking in after a late-night party. Ugh, it sent a chill down my spine.

"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you up." I said, grabbing my Narval uniform from the closet, trying to ignore her gaze.

"Did you have fun?" Laura asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Grace. Are you really going to keep lying to me? I thought we were friends."

A pause. That came out way too sharp. I set the uniform on the bed and stared at Laura. She looked annoyed, not the playful kind, but the serious, pissed-off kind. Damn it. I had tried to keep my nights with Heather discreet, but my escapes were quite noticeable to my roommates, I guess. I walked over to her bed and sat down.

"Okay, I'm sorry." It sounded like a confession, even though I hadn't admitted anything yet.

"You lied to me." There was hurt in her voice.

I exhaled. Time to face reality. I hadn't trusted my friends, and now I was paying the consequences. I guess I deserved that.

"I know. I've been messing up. I didn't want to say anything because my mind's been a mess." I explained.

That was true. My mind was a tornado of chaos, and I didn't want to drag anyone into it.

"You can be a mess out loud, you know? That's what friends are for." She said.

"Sorry... I should've told you."

Laura nodded, and it seemed like she eased up a bit after that. A long silence followed. "So, it's Heather, right?"

I nodded silently.

"Are you two a thing?" She asked.

I shrugged. "Not sure. I don't know how any of this works..."

"Any of this?" She frowned.

"Yeah... you know, relationships..."

"There isn't a manual to follow."

I sighed. "You sure? Because here, everything seems to have a manual."

"Fuck that. How do you feel about her?"

"Honestly?" I said.

"Uh-huh."

"Well... I feel... scared most of the time... stressed too... but at the same time, I somehow suck up every minute I can to be with her."

Laura blinked slowly and then took a breath. Silence.

"What? It's weird, isn't it? I'm wasted."

"It's not weird, and you're not wasted... I just see... love there..."

That word made my heart flutter strangely. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.

She continued. "...and love is a problem. Have you two talked about it?"

"Talk? Well..." I needed a moment to think. "More or less?" A pause. More thinking. "Not really. Talk about what? Is there anything to talk about?" My heart raced. I was getting nervous by the minute. "Hey, why is it a problem?"

"You have to be careful, Grace. She is... well... you know who she is."

"And?"

"It's important that you both are aligned with the meaning of whatever is going on with you, before anybody gets hurt or, worse... prejudiced."

"She wouldn't harm me in that way."

"You don't know her that well yet..." Ouch. That hurt.

"I know her better than you."

"I'm just trying to help, Grace. There's no need to be defensive."

But it was too late, she had pressed a bruise I didn't even know I had.

"What the hell is going on?" Mark's voice cut the tension between us.

"Grace and Heather are sleeping together." Laura said.

"What?" If our voice hadn't wakened him up, that information certainly did.

"Laura!" I yelled at her.

Mark looked bewildered as he processed the information. He sat up in bed, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

"Really?" He asked, confused.

I hesitated, but what was the point of lying?

"Yes." I said. "but it's more complicated than that." I glared at Laura.

"Yep, so complicated she didn't tell us a single thing." Laura wasn't going to drop it.

"Ugh. Why are you acting like that?" I said, annoyed. Then I turned to Mark, with a softer voice. "I'm sorry, I was trying to figure out what to do with it before telling you."

Mark rubbed the back of his neck, still processing. "I mean, it's not like you have to tell us everything... But It would have been cool that you could trust us."

"Exactly my point," Laura chimed in, arms crossed like she was waiting for me to dig my own grave.

I threw my hands up. "I already apologized! What else do you guys want from me?"

"First, stop shouting. Both of you. It's early." Mark said. "Second, I don't want anything. I have enough on my plate right now, though it seems nobody cares." He flopped onto his bed, turning his back to us like he was done with the conversation.

Laura and I exchanged a glance. She raised an eyebrow, but for once, she didn't say anything.

"Hey... are you okay?" I said.

"Of course." He said ironically, "You two are having fun and gossiping around while I have to keep practicing to retake my combat test. All good."

"I'm sorry, Mark." I said. "It's a pain in the ass to re-take that test, but you can do it. I know you can."

Laura intervened, "Plus, if Grace is dating Heather, maybe she can pull some strings to help you with your test."

"Laura!" I yelled.

"It's just a joke!"

Mark didn't turn or say another word. Fine. If he wanted to shut me out, I wasn't about to chase him. And Laura? She could stew in her attitude for all I cared. I wasn't in the mood to deal with her theatrics, either. Got my Narval uniform on and with the little extra time I had before starting to work I went up to the terrace and wrote the letter to Michael, the one that would be part of the message Erik would send him.

Writing the first word took me quite a while. What the hell do you say to someone when you have no idea what's going on in their life? I had a million things to tell him, but which ones mattered? And what if I said the wrong thing? What if this happened to be the last time he heard from me? At some point, I managed to get something out, still don't know how.

Hello, Mickey,

I clearly remember how you used to hate it when I called you Mickey instead of Michael when you were little. You used to say it made you sound like a baby and that you were already a grown-up (despite being just 5, haha). Then, it became a special pet name that you'd love.

I guess this message will take you by surprise. This whole idea came from Erik who is still here and deeply in love with you. He has been patiently waiting for us and has no one else in his heart but you. So I hope this cheers you up a little in case you're feeling down.

I can't express with words how much I've missed you since the day we separated at the border and how worried I've been. I know you'll probably be okay because you always are, but I still worry (That's the job of a big sister, after all.) My life here has changed a lot, and it hasn't been easy without you, but I think I'm starting to find my place. That's why I want you to come. Unfortunately, there is no way you can enter through the front gates anymore, but I'm sure you're aware of the tunnels that connect both sides to transport different resources. I will volunteer to surveil the tunnels at nighttime every Wednesday. If you ever want to give it a try, I'll be there. By now, there is not much more we can do. I really hope you are okay and that your happy and kind smile is still on your face from time to time.

Love you,

Grace

A couple of tears fell onto the page as I reread it. I brushed them away quickly. Time was already slipping away. I sent the letter to Erik and hurried to the hall to check my assignment for the day. The hall buzzed with people crowding around the screen. My eyes scanned the list.

Grace Haynes – Border.

Heather was right. Let's go intense day, let's go. But if that wasn't enough, I spotted another familiar name: Laura Robins - Border

Perfect. Just what I needed.

Lea moved through the crowd with a silver flag raised from her backpack. "Okay, folks, the border team, with me!"

An arm draped over my shoulders, and a voice followed. "Looks like we're going to be border partners today!" Of course, it was Laura.

"Apparently, yes." I said.

"I hope you're not too distracted with Heather around." She smirked.

"Oh, please, don't make me regret having been honest with you." I sighed while following Lea, trying to leave Laura behind.

She ran to my side. "Hey, I can bother you for a while as payback for your lies."

"Oh, come on."

We took three ships to the border area. When we got down, I spotted Heather waiting for us, serious and composed, hands behind her back, wearing that elegant Narval coat I had seen her put on earlier in the morning.

"Good morning, new Narval Officers." She said. We all gathered around her, and she waited until each of us had made it off the ship before starting to speak.

"Welcome to the border. Here you'll learn the most crucial work a Narval Officer does. Our goal is to ensure the safety and prosperity of our community while extending our hand to those who seek refuge. But since it's your first day, your primary task will be to observe and learn. You'll only act upon the instructions given by either Lea or myself. Is that clear?" Heather's tone was so authoritative and I can't say I didn't like it.

"Yes." We all said.

"Your girlfriend is hot in that bossy mood." Laura whispered in my ear.

"Oh, shut up."

Heather's sharp eyes flicked over me for a moment. That was new. She was looking at me. Nice, I guess.

Lea pulled out a digital device and glanced down at it before speaking up. "Alright, team, we're gonna split into two groups, each with one of us."

I wasn't sure if I wanted to be on Heather's team, especially with Laura's stupidity swirling around. But I definitely didn't want to go with Lea either. She'd hated me ever since the day I beat Kate's face. I wasn't even sure how things had gone so wrong between us, but there was no denying the tension every time she was near me.

"Grace Haynes, with Heather. Laura Robins, with me." Lea said.

Great. Laura was away, and Heather was close. Nothing could go wrong with that combination, right? Once they finished assigning the teams, we split and followed Heather toward the front gates, while Lea and her group stayed back at the immigration waiting point.

"Listen up, everyone," Heather said. "When the gates open, you'll stay behind me. Form a defensive row, but remember, just observe. Don't move, speak, or do anything until I tell you. One of you will come with me to cross the gates."

A brief silence hung in the air.

"Grace." Heather called.

I blinked and my stomach did a quick flip. "Yes?" I said

"You're coming with me."

I joined her and left our partners behind as we moved closer to the opening of the gates. Heather glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "I'll go first. You stay behind me. Follow my instructions, understood?"

I nodded in silence, my heart racing. Heather turned and signaled something to Lea.

The sound of the gates echoed through the air, sharp and raw, like the scream of an animal. The heavy doors groaned as they began to move. A hush fell over the space. Light poured in, growing wider as the passage between both sides opened. And there they were, hundreds of people, standing in a long line, their eyes locked on us. Fear and hope clung to them. It was like staring into an old mirror, an image that pulled straight at my heart.