Cyber Overwinter [Part 2]

As the two walked to the entrance of the small exhibit, they were quickly met by hundreds of holographic depictions of the brightly orange and black spotted butterfly. Once they entered, Izel found the introduction for the reasons and awareness for the exhibit.

“Okay let’s see, Danaus plexippus, or the monarch butterfly… General history, biology… Here it is: Since the early 2000s, the monarch butterfly has been in a rapid decline in population due to major disruptions in their journeys to the overwintering migration sites. During that time period, the formation and establishment of the ‘New Republic of Texas’ was gaining great momentum. This alignment provided strong evidence suggesting that the sudden and drastic alterations to the airspace of New Republic of Texas has led to the monarch butterfly’s decline.” Izel read. “Okay… And the nation’s growing failures with Fusion Power production, coupled with their preferred reintroduction of fossil fuels for faster economic growth. Promoted by a burst of emissions created massive developments of smog from the fossil fuels that has disrupted the monarch butterfly’s migration patterns from the upper northern Americans to the lower northern Americas.” He finished. “Yeah, you can see here that their migration pattern travels straight through Texas territories.” He pointed to the example map display.

“That’s just awful, nearly killing an entire race of butterflies for faster growth.” Nevaeh criticized.

“True, but that’s something I didn’t know…” Izel muttered.

“What’s that? The amazing Coatl just learned something?” Nevaeh teased.

“Hey, I never said I knew everything, I just know a lot of things… Anyway, it is pretty despicable, but to play devil's advocate, they probably didn’t know to begin with.” Izel remarked.

“Well, hopefully they’ll realize the harm they’re doing soon.” Nevaeh wished as she looked at the holograms of the monarch butterflies. “Wild… One wrong decision, and poof. They're all gone.” She lamented, fluttering one hand in a sad gesture.

Izel looked at Nevaeh for a moment to let the unfortunate reality sink in their minds. “Speaking of going, looks like the staff is encouraging everyone to leave, heh.” He smiled awkwardly, gesturing to the Museum’s staff.

Nevaeh nodded in agreement, and the two soon made their way to the exit. Flowing with the somewhat large crowd. As they walked outside the Museum, Izel paused his movements, leaving Nevaeh to walk forward without him before turning to him to see why he stopped.

“Um, wait here, I’ll be right back.” Izel quickly mentioned as he ran back into the Museum.

“Well, alright.” Nevaeh remarked to herself, as she watched Izel jog back into the Museum.

Nevaeh soon found a spot to sit down as she waited for Izel to return. She placed her elbows to her knees so she could prop her head with her hands. People watching the quickly dwindling crowd drift away to their personal lives and homes. Wondering what the rest of their day may have in store for them. As many return to loving friends and family, while she’s often stuck questioning simple actions in her life that would never even occur in the lives of others. Causing her focus on the envy she holds for people of the lives of those people, to then think of the past and the countless opportunities they’ve had. After several minutes of reverie, at the many lost ideas of what they could have had for her, she caught a jogging Izel from the corner of her eye.

“Here.” Izel exhaled somewhat heavily, from his rushed pacing.

“What’s this?” Nevaeh asked, as she took the thin, neatly folded paper bag.

“It's a souvenir… To remember today and stuff.” Izel looked upward as he explained to somewhat hide his blushing face.

Nevaeh smiled slightly as she opened the paper bag, she placed the paper bag under her arm to fully look at what Izel got her. “What is it?” She asked, somewhat confused as it looked like a booklet with a picture of the two large fossils at the Museum's entrance.

“It's a notebook, or a journal, a paper one too… Research claims that writing on physical paper improves memory, reduces stress, and enhances creativity. So, I figured that those benefits might double when you use this because of the fun learning that you may have had today.” Izel quickly explained, still unable to make eye contact with Nevaeh.

“That’s… So thoughtful.” Nevaeh mentioned slowly as she looked at the booklet.

“Wha-what do you mean by that?” Izel asked with some confusion, unsure if she was teasing him.

“I'm not poking fun, it's a thoughtful gift… Thank you.” Nevaeh chuckled at his reaction, ending with a smile. Lost in thought as she gazed at the booklet for another moment. “And here I thought that you weren’t good at this sort of thing.” She then giggled lightly.

“Good at what?” Izel quickly asked in growing confusion at the situation.

“Hehe, being on a date.” Nevaeh remarked giggling.

“Date?! That-that's not what this is.” Izel refuted in a huff, again hiding his red cheeks.

“It's fine… I mean it's not like I have any experience with dates either.” Nevaeh opened, content with the joy she’s feeling.

“Oh, yeah, it seems you’re more experienced than me!” Izel questioned.

“My ‘experience’ is from a lot of bad rom coms.” Nevaeh easily explained.

“Pfft, what? You watch rom coms?” Izel scoffed in disbelief.

“Ye-yeah, is that a problem?” Nevaeh swiftly asked in a shook voice.

“No, no problem at all.” Izel smirked, seeing that he’s finally got the upper hand in a teasing situation.

“There’s nothing wrong with a few guilty pleasures, okay?” Nevaeh remarked in a huff.

“Be that as it may, shall I walk you home? Or vice versa, given my wild situation.” Izel asked, avoiding all eye contact.

“Hmm, well, whatever you think this is—I don’t think it's over yet.” Nevaeh mocked.

“Huh?” Izel widened his jaw in confusion.

“Come on, I want to show you a really cool spot.” Nevaeh gestured.

With some skepticism, Izel watches Nevaeh lead the way slightly. She turned to the confused Izel, for her to move her head in a manner that indicates that he should follow. Izel shrugged and caught up with her, ready for their next adventure.

⧮ ⧯ ⧮

Lone on their travels into the deep corners of this deranged city, Nevaeh served as the humble guide to a place of wonder to Izel. Willfully placing his trust with a person that arguably saved his life. Venturing deeper and deeper into the night life of Nuevo Eztli elevated the ecstasy of the cyberized citizens, each ready to promote themselves in any fashion they see fit. All to stave off their ever growing loneliness that so many suffer every moment. Fighting to find a place in a realm of suffocating holograms, drowning in the harsh sea of electrically charged noises, and negotiating with the machiavellian acts of artificial brains.

“This the place?” Izel naturally asked.

“Yup.” Nevaeh quickly confirmed, staring at the tops of a skyscraper, one that lies near the edge of the city in the southwest. “We’re going on the top of it.” She announced causally.

“Huh?!” Izel swiftly vocalized in surprise, for him to then notice that Nevaeh has already begun to ascend to the top.

Izel was quick to analyze that this building in particular is much older than ones located near the center of the city. As the architecture is rustic, even depressing, bonded to a time that demanded efficiency and productivity. Completely erasing any form of thoughtful light for those that had to dwell within its walls. Izel just sighed and started to move once he saw Nevaeh wave at him.

“This building looks abandoned, why are we scaling the sides of it?” Izel asked as he mimicked Nevaeh’s movements to the top of the building.

“Well, first, it isn't totally abandoned, some of the floors have functional offices and a fair amount of Unhoused live here. Second, this way is quicker.” Nevaeh explained, as she navigated the oddly complicated scaffolding.

Since this upward hike isn’t a common strategy within Izel’s daily activities, he certainly needed the aid of Nevaeh for a few floors. Which created multiple instances of closeness between the two: A gentle glide of one another’s shoulders, grabbing onto each other's hands for supportive balance, back and forth compliments of their individual abilities.

After several more tricky leaps and cautious maneuvers, the pair finally reached the top of the semi abandoned building. Nevaeh walked to an area of the roof, as it was a spot of routine for her. Izel marveled at the sights of the night sky and the endless sea of lights that flooded Nuevo Eztli. He then took a deep breath, as if breathing for the first time.

“Whoa…” Izel expresses. “I’ve never seen the city like this before.” He added.