Red Stars

“Sorry,” I muttered. “I’m going to go home. I had to hang up on my superior earlier.” Michael was defeated, his shoulders falling as he leaned back and watched me leave the little party to go home. I rubbed at the burning in my face, scowling as I made sure my disguise was back. My face being dragged on the tiles back at the Aligning Stars facility couldn’t have left my face burning still, and it only left my face opening permanently as an option. I hadn’t spoken to anyone about what was wrong with my face to begin with, so I wasn’t sure, but the lines were the worst of it. I found myself needing the glasses Flo’Orin had given me more and more. I stared up at the sky, the small tablet ringing. I lifted it up and blinked at the face of the angry Stalfrill. I slowed down, digging in my pockets to pull out headphones so bystanders wouldn’t hear the conversation. General Nox’Sol was silent again, the both of us just staring at one another as I walked. “You’re not with them anymore, are you?” he asked. “No, sir,” I nodded. I was already half-way home, the distance between my home and Michaels just as short as it used to be. “Has your face opened?” he questioned. I sighed and shifted uncomfortably mid-step. I didn’t want to talk about it, and I didn’t want to answer something I wasn’t sure of. “It tore open prematurely, and the membrane connecting the covers was repaired. I am not sure when it will open properly,” I replied. The blank stare made me roll my eyes. “No.”