The Chapter Where A Girl Talks To A Tree

Liane flew through the city, munching on her meal as the board automatically navigated between skyscrapers and around other aerial traffic.

She touched the smooth glass of one skyscraper as she passed by. It was one of her favorites, the Ecliptic Haven, a skyscraper that was made of wood at the base, then slowly transitioned to glass as it rose. It wasn’t the fanciest buildings in the city. There were plenty of taller, fancier, more interesting ones. She thought maybe it was the simplicity of this one that made it stand out to her.

She recalled how Aurelia had explained to her in her past life how humans needed beauty. Every building in the city had been designed to fulfill that need, and seeing it all at once from high in the air, she couldn’t deny that it was a sight to behold.

The cumulusboard drifted past the last skyscraper and descended toward the suburbs. Liane peaked over the side. She wasn’t sure because she’d never been allowed to visit, but she thought her daughter's home was in this area. If she knew where it was, she would go right then, but their reunion would have to wait a little longer.

Liane’s home was farther out and as the houses grew more scarce, she knew they were getting close.

The cumulusboard slowed and descended in front of an older style house. The simple house was like a hollow tree trunk, round straight wall and open at the top. Retractable roof weren’t popular when she’d gotten it, so Liane only had an EMI roof. Looking down at her home from above, she smiled to see her old tree still growing tall and strong right through the center.

Clouds gathered overhead as Liane landed. She dropped her helmet on her new cumulusboard and hopped off as the rain started. Water trickled down her EMI umbrella, creating a personal rain free dome around her.

Looking at her home felt oddly nostalgic, even though she’d only been gone a few days. She walked to the front door, but paused before going inside, causing the cumulusboard to bump into the back of the leg.

“Use the garage,” she said, shooing it away.

It drifted off obediently to find the garage.

Liane took a breath, then pushed through her front food. Rain drummed against the EMI barrier overhead. Lights flicked on as she entered, illuminating the interior against the dark sky above.

“Hello?” she called, but got no answer.

As she ventured down the hall, her fingers brushed the numerous old-fashioned pictures hung on the wall. Each one was a snapshot of her, pre-reincarnation, and her daughter, Claire. She stopped to inspect one featuring Claire dressed as a cowgirl, sitting on the back of a horse with her standing by her side. She remembered Claire had begged and begged to visit a real farm, not a virtual one, but Liane had been too afraid.

Looking back now, she kicked herself for not putting in more effort to overcome her silly fears. With this chance to try again, she was certain she would do better.

“Welcome guest.”

Liane jumped, almost knocking a picture off the wall. She turned to find her little Home Helper drone hovering behind her, too close, as usual. She stifled a laugh when she saw its face. Drawn on with felt pen by Claire, it was a lopsided smile with googly eyes, fitting for the quirky drone.

“Hello, HH. Why didn’t you respond when I called before?” she asked.

“I just did,” HH said, its eyes bobbing to one side.

“No, I mean. Never mind. It’s good to see you.”

“You as well, though my memory indicates this is our first time meeting. I regret to inform you my owner is not home, and his Second Sight is off, so I cannot contact him. Is there anything I can help you with in his stead?”

“HH, it’s me. I’m Liam,” Liane said.

“That is the same name as my owner. What a coincidence. It is a pleasure to meet you, Liam. Is there anything I can help you with in my owner’s stead?” HH repeated.

Liane shook her head, unsurprised that the drone didn’t understand. She never did get it upgraded.

“Actually, you can call me Liane, and would you take care of these for me?” she asked, holding out the dishes from her earlier meal.

“It would be my pleasure, Liane,” HH said.

It snatched the dishes from her and glided straightway to the kitchen. Liane followed.

Rounding the corner to the kitchen, she smiled to see Oaken. Her favorite tree, still strong and health, rising through the center of the house and extending its branches up above the EMI barrier. She took a seat at the kitchen table that was cut to form a half circle around Oaken.

“Hi, Oaken,” Liane said to the tree, “It’s me, Liam. I know I look different, and I’m actually supposed to go by Liane now, so make sure you call me that, but it’s really me. Surprise!”

Oaken didn’t respond, nor did he look surprised.

“You could act a little surprised. Remember when I left? I said I wouldn’t see you again because I was dying, and now I’m back from the dead, but as a girl. That’s not even a tiny bit surprising?”

Oaken was resolute, not giving an inch.

“Fine, but if seeing me come back from the dead doesn't surprise you, I don’t know what will. By the way, thanks for watching over the house while I was dying. I appreciate it. I hope you didn’t let any squirrels in, like last time I was away. You know I don't like those things. HH, did Oaken let any squirrels in the house recently?”

HH turned from the dishes, its eyes looking in different directions. “The individual known as Oaken is a tree and is thus incapable—”

“Thank you, HH. Never mind.”

HH returned to the dishes.

“It really is nice to be back home. I was pretty sure I would never see this place again. Or you again.” Liane placed a hand on Oaken’s trunk. “Just so you know, I do mean it. Thanks for watching over the place while I was gone.”

A trickle of water flowed down Oaken’s trunk and over her fingers.

“Ah! No need to cry, big guy. I’m not dying again anytime soon.”

Liane leaned back in her chair watching the rain drip across Oaken’s leaves and branches then onto the EMI barrier where it flowed outward in little rivers.

“Oaken, do you remember when Claire was little, and she would climb you then walk along the walls all around the house. And she would do it, knowing that it scared me to death thinking that she might fall. She was so stubborn and fearless, and… I hope she’s okay, and happy, and… I just wonder what she’s doing now. She’s the reason that I came back from the dead. I couldn’t die without patching things up with her, you know?”

Oaken remained silent, quietly listening.

“Well, technically I did die, but Aurelia brought me back.” A thought made Liane pause. “Speaking of Aurelia. She was supposed to meet me at the clinic, but I ran away from the clinic before she got there. I’ll tell you about that later. I think I should probably tell her where I am. HH, can you send Aurelia a message?”

The drone practically dropped the dishes in the sink before skipping through the air to Liane, googly eyes dancing as it came. It stopped a little too close to her, neither eye looking her way.

“It would be my pleasure, Liane. Aurelia is registered in my contact list. What message would you like me to send her?”

Before she could answer, the front door opened and shut, followed by someone calling, “Hello? Is anyone here?”

“Speak of the devil, and she shall appear,” Liane said.