There were no issues today – it was an easy in and easy out, and she had the files she needed. She got herself out of the system before she ran into any unnecessary security risks. It was one thing to play with security programs that stood in her way, another thing all together to play with security programs that she didn’t even need to get through.
Slipping the USB out of the computer was next – the device safely pocketed as she began deleting her history from the computer. You could never be too careful, after all. Normally she would have gotten up and left then, but she knew she shouldn’t. It had been a while since she’d checked her personal e-mail. The one that was almost exclusively for communications with her parents, although the few she considered friends from her human life had the address as well. Her mother just refused to accept that her daughter couldn’t communicate more often, and while her few friends may dismiss her taking forever to get back to them, her mother was the type to worry. It was a thought that used to bring a smile to her face, but now she was worried herself that her mother might come “check up” on her. She didn’t want her to come into contact with this city at all.
So now she made sure to never go more than a week without checking. She made sure to call at least once every two weeks, to make sure her mother didn’t call her at a bad time. She’d never had to try this hard before coming to Harper Rock. Worst case scenario then was her mother showing up at her apartment with home cooked foods and an annoyed expression on her face. Worst case scenario now was her mother showing up in Harper Rock and coming up with the same obstacle that Velia had. She refused to allow that to happen.
Velia had settled into the life nicely, really. Her mother wouldn’t. She knew this deep down in her gut. This was why she was pulling up the internet again, and signing into her e-mail. There was just the one new e-mail, from one Amelia Russo. It wasn’t a long read – her mother always had been short and to the point.
From: Amelia Russo
To: Velia Russo
Subject: Your 26th
To: Velia Russo
Subject: Your 26th
I still don’t understand what is so important that you can’t just come back home for one day? And yes, I understand that some children move further away from their parents than you did when they leave home, but that isn’t what you did. Besides, it’s not like you moved across the country! You simply moved to a different city. You’re still in Ontario.
I’m worried about you. You didn’t even tell us you were moving. You just up and left, with an e-mail later on asking us to go pack up your apartment for you. There’s still plenty of time for you to come home, so we can celebrate your 26th birthday with you. I’m sure your friends would like to see you as well, though they’re too nice to say so. Have you even talked to them?
Call us sometime, we miss you.
Your loving mother.
Velia’s head shook as she read down through it. It was hard to argue with her mother when she was completely right. Her mother was sharp as a tack and everything about this was probably sending off all of her mother alerts. Something was wrong with her only child, who refused to talk to her about it, and for some reason couldn’t come home for her birthday because of it.
Clicking the reply button Velia tried to think of a way to say what she’d already said to make her mother calm down. She doubted it was possible, but she had to try, didn’t she? She couldn’t go home, not now. She didn’t trust herself, and even if she did, she wasn’t completely positive that her seeing her parents wouldn’t put them in jeopardy. She wouldn’t do that, no matter how much she missed them. Plus, there was no way she could explain away her not eating her favourite meals and deserts for a whole day or two while she went home. Her mother was too smart.
To: Amelia Russo
From: Velia Russo
Subject: Re: Your 26th
From: Velia Russo
Subject: Re: Your 26th
Yes, I’m sure. You’re right, I didn’t move far at first – but I am further now. I’m settling into a new life, one without the private investigating that you hated me doing. I’m trying new things. I’ve already got a new set of friends here, a new job. The arena may not be as nice as the one near my apartment, but it’s workable.
I’m sorry it’s come so close to my birthday, and I’m sorry that it hurts you that this is what I’ve chosen to do. Maybe after things get more settled I can come up for a day or something. Maybe in the new year?
I do love you, and I promise to call. I’m not disappearing. Promise.
Your loving daughter
She hoped that she kept that promise. It would work, hopefully, to appease her mother for now. Velia had a moment of hesitation before she clicked the send – a moment of wishing she’d never come here and none of this was happening. Then the e-mail was off, and she was off the hook for another few days.
She wiped the computer’s history again before logging it off and making her way out into the cold night.