Saphora vol.1 Retention

by Jaz Johnson

  “She seems to be doing well this time,” Hydra noted, looking at Saphora from the kitchen. Maverick nodded, still seated on the sofa. He had been watching her the entire time, making sure that she was okay. She had fallen back against the sofa, eyes half shut and body limp, breathing slowly.

  “So what happens when she remembers everything? You take her home?” Hydra paused, giving a nod after a moment.

  “Ideally …” she answered. “She has to return at some point. And it has to be soon,” she answered truthfully.

  Maverick nodded, gripping his knees a little tighter. He knew there was something between them. Something that he believed would turn into something amazing. But leaving Earth … To live the rest of his life on a planet unknown to him. His mind was being fickle. One moment he was determined to go, the next he was wondering if he would even be able to breathe on the planet.

  Maverick’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Saphora’s phone ringing. Hydra flinched slightly at the sudden melody and turned to face it on the kitchen’s island counter.

  “Someone’s communicator,” she pointed out, watching the screen light up and listening to the sounds of electric guitar. Her brows furrowed. “What an odd sound.” Maverick tilted his head upwards, standing up.

  “What does it say?” Hydra scoffed, picking up the phone.

  “I cannot read this, mortal,” she said, tossing it to him. Maverick fumbled to catch the phone, not wanting it to land on Saphora and disturb her. Looking down at the phone’s screen, he saw that is was Fran, and an instant wave of nerves washed over him.

  “Oh god, it’s her mom,” he breathed.

  “Impossible,” exclaimed Hydra, standing up from the stool and looking in his direction. Maverick quickly shook his head, going to clarify.

  “No, not … her mother. The woman that raised her here. Fran.”

  “Oh. Why do you not answer it?”

  “Well … She doesn’t exactly know who I am.”

  “And what if she is delivering important information?” Hydra asked, extending her open palm. “Give it here. I will answer it.” Maverick looked up at her, deciding that that would have been worse, and answered the phone.

  “… Hello?”

  Immediately recognizing a significantly deeper voice, Fran went into questioning.

  “Who is this?”

  “Uh, this is a friend of Saphora’s.”

  “Friend? Are you that boy that drove her home?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Who are you?” she asked with a more motherly tone.

  “Err, my name is Maverick, ma’am.”

  “Where’s Saphora?”

  “She’s uh, she’s sleeping right now,” he answered, looking back at her limp body. Fran’s voice went up an octave.

  “Sleeping? Why is she sleeping there with you? Were you two sleeping together?” she asked, almost short of breath. “Put Saphora on the phone!”

  “Oh! No, no ma’am we weren’t sleeping together! I … She was just tired, ma’am. I don’t want to wake her up … Can I give her a message?”

  “You tell that girl to get home as soon as she opens her eyes!” she snapped, hanging up the phone. Maverick cringed at the tone of her voice, inching away from the phone. He sighed, lowering the phone from his face, and looking up at Hydra with a grimace.

  “What did she say?” she asked.

  “It’s time for her to go home.”