Aria sat quietly in her mother's study, the glow of the holo-screen reflecting off her tear-brimmed eyes. Her small hands trembled as she activated the optical brain communicator embedded in the desk. The familiar interface flickered to life, casting her reflection beside the faint image of her mother's frequency code.
Her heart ached. She hesitated for a moment, afraid that the sound of her mother's voice would shatter the fragile calm she was trying to hold. Then, with a determined breath, she pressed the call button.
The light stabilized, and a soft, familiar voice filled the room.
"Aria?" Selena's voice carried both surprise and tenderness. Her image appeared, white lab coat half-buttoned, hair tied in a loose braid, the faint hum of the medical corps laboratory behind her. "What's wrong, dear? Why did you wake up so early? Is something wrong?"
Aria's throat tightened. Her heart swelled with a mixture of relief and sorrow.
