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Diego. His face came to her like a dull thump in her chest. She could leave the city behind, and she could even leave her friends. But now that she had the money, the reality of leaving Diego settled in. It hit her much harder than she’d expected. She’d thought idly about convincing him to come with her. Now she understood that this would never actually happen.
Eliana picked up the envelope. It was heavy and cool in her palm, the paper slick. She pulled out one of the bills and held it up to the overhead light, where the blue ink glowed.
* * * *
When Eliana came home from work that afternoon, she found Diego smoking on the stoop of her apartment building, his body hunched over the glowing ember of the cigarette. It was colder than usual out. Darker, too.
Eliana stopped a few paces away. He didn’t notice her at first, just kept puffing at his cigarette. She’d deposited Mr. Gonzalez’s money on her way home, and the receipt from the banker was folded away in her checkbook, a reminder that she had enough for a visa.
Diego looked up. His eyes, dark and glittering like coals, locked on to her. And then he broke out in a wary smile.
“You’re okay,” he said.
For a moment Eliana didn’t know what he was talking about. Then she realized: the explosion. She hadn’t spoken to him since the explosion, even though she had called his apartment. He’d never picked up.
“So are you,” she said.
Diego flicked his cigarette over the side of the stoop and bounded down the stairs. “I’m sorry I’ve been away,” he said. “I heard you were there.”
Eliana frowned. “How’d you hear that?”
He didn’t answer, only enveloped her in a hug, drawing her in tight against his chest. Eliana closed her eyes and breathed in the smoky-spicy scent of him. For a moment, her worries went numb.
“I wasn’t there there, anyway,” she said, speaking into his chest. “I was at the Azevedo warehouse—”
“You were close enough.” He pulled away and looked down at her. “It’s so good to see you. Mr. Cabrera had me busy, but I came as soon as I could.”
“I called.”
“I was at the Florencia.” Diego looked away and let out a long breath. “Working on something. But you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
Eliana didn’t say anything. His concern physically pained her.
“Let’s go inside,” she said, threading her arm around his waist. She led him back toward the stoop and into the lobby. It was just as cold inside as it was out, and the light fixture flickered overhead, casting short staccato shadows across the dirty tile. Diego grabbed her hand and squeezed, and they took the stairs together, not speaking. At her apartment, Eliana opened the door and went in, tossing her purse onto the dining table. The receipt inside was a reminder that she almost had the money to leave, a reminder that she would have to tell Diego.
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked. “I think I still have coffee.”
“Don’t waste it on me.” Diego switched on the radio and slid down into her couch. Some crooner’s voice, old-fashioned and soothing, trickled out of the speakers. It was the sort of thing her parents had listened to, dancing together in the living room when Eliana was a little girl.
“They’re saying it was an accident,” Diego said glumly. “That’s the latest news.”
Eliana sank into the couch beside him. He stared at the opposite wall, one hand rubbing at his forehead. “An electrical accident, faulty wiring and all that.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Eliana sure didn’t. It was like with the blackouts. The city came in with their bullshit explanations that only raised more questions than anything else. “I mean, what sort of power plant has bad wiring? What if it had been one of the atomic plants, for God’s sake?”
“Oh, they keep those safe,” Diego said. “Mainland interests, you know.”
Eliana cringed. Mainland. She had to tell him. And more than that, she had to convince him to come with her. Not just because she’d miss him but because the city was dangerous. Faulty wiring and electrical accidents. Cabrera. The robots lurking in the park.
Over on the radio, the song faded away, replaced by the smooth, dark baritone of the a
“Hope City is falling apart,” the a
Eliana jolted. She looked over at the radio, then at Diego. He was frowning, his head tilted, brow furrowed.
“The main dome is nearly a hundred years old,” the a
Eliana reached over and switched the radio off.
“Thank you,” Diego said. “I wasn’t sure I could stand much more of that.”
“I always thought Cabrera was pro-mainland,” Eliana said. “That’s what everyone says.”
“Cabrera is pro-Cabrera.” Diego sighed. “He loves all this shit anyway. Anything to get people anxious. He didn’t do it,” Diego said quickly. “The power plant.”
“I didn’t think he did,” Eliana said, her thoughts on the money for the mainland; she hardly registered what Diego said.
“Good. I didn’t want you playing do-gooder. But he’s sure as shit going to exploit it.”
Something about the bitterness in Diego’s voice made Eliana hopeful. Maybe he knew he couldn’t stay in the city much longer either.
“Listen,” Eliana said. “Diego. I have to tell you something.”
Diego swooped his gaze back over to her. “What is it? Did something happen at the explosion?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just—” Her voice faltered. She took a deep breath and glanced over at her purse, still sitting on the kitchen table. “I had a client come in a few days ago and offer me a pretty easy job for a lot of cash.”
Diego didn’t say anything, just kept staring at her.
“Five hundred dollars,” she said. “Plus another fifty for my retainer. You know I’ve been saving for the mainland. Well.” She shrugged, like it was that easy. “I’ve got it. At least enough for the visa. I’m close to enough for the ship ticket too, and I’m sure I’ll have enough by the end of winter, especially with the way business has been going.”
Her confession was met with a thick, buzzing silence. The light fixture flickered once and settled.
“I want you to come with me,” she said, although she didn’t look at him. “I’m sure Cabrera would get you the money. Just—come with me. Leave. To hell with this place.”
She felt Diego’s eyes on her, and in that oppressive silence she had to resist the urge to flip the radio back on. They sat like that for a long time. Eliana kept staring at the far wall. It was the only thing she could do.
Finally, Diego spoke.
“I can’t do that,” he said. “I can’t leave Mr. Cabrera. Christ, you know that.” He touched her chin and turned her face toward him. He looked sadder than she had ever seen him. “I’m happy for you,” he said. “I know this is what you wanted.”
“It’s not just a matter of what I wanted,” Eliana said. “It’s what’s safe. It’s like the guy on the radio said, the city’s falling apart. Atomic power’s not going to fix that. Cabrera sure as hell isn’t going to fix that. The city stopped existing when the amusement park shut down. It stopped existing before I was even born. There’s no reason for me to stay here.”
Diego pulled back from her, a sharp, subtle movement she almost didn’t see.
“There’s no reason for either of us to stay here,” she said. “For anyone, even. I just— Please, Diego, come with me.”
Diego looked at her for a moment longer. Then he rubbed his hand over his face and stood up. Eliana felt him pulling away from her, the way you would peel a wrapper away from a candy.