Leila looks strangely at the call log that says unknown number while driving a green Jeep along a dirt road on the outskirts of the border.

  She tries to return the call, but that function is not enabled for that type of number. At that moment, the car passes abruptly over a hole, causing her hand to shake and the device to slip, falling onto the road.

  She brakes.

  After stopping, she lets out a deep sigh. Through the rearview mirror, she looks for the cellphone and sees a blue dot in the middle of the dirt road. She opens the door and goes to it.

  When she picks it up from the ground, she blows off the dust and removes the back cover. Then she checks whether the N2 core is intact, and after seeing that it still glows in a slightly bluish tone, she releases the air while placing her hand on her chest. After closing it again, she puts the device in the pocket of her brown jeans.

  As she returns to the car, she pats her hands on her vest of the same color to remove any dust that may have stuck there. She ends up finding some on the black fabric of her tank top, and realizing it will not come off so easily, she pouts to the side with her mouth. Lastly, she checks her hat, which when moved exposes more clearly the reddish strands under the sun, which quickly reminds her why she uses such protection on her head.

  Without delay, she gets back into the car and continues the trip.

  After more than two hours on the road, she arrives home and parks in front. She grabs her beige fabric shoulder bag and heads to the gate, then to the door.

  “I am hoooome!”

  Already taking off her boots and leaving them beside the door, she walks through a small corridor toward the living room.

  “Hi daughter!” Without losing her pace, she heads toward the kitchen.

  “Hi mom! How was it there? Did you find anything?” Sarah asks while lying on the couch, reading a book.

  “Unfortunately not, just stones and roots.”

  “What a pity, do not get discouraged, soon you will find something!”

  “I hope so. Otherwise, the Guild will revoke the restriction of the place, and then it is over…”

  “Why do you not join the Hunters’ Guild? They pay much more.” Sarah suggests.

  “You know what I think of those filthy ones. We Archaeologists at least have scruples, and we value the findings much more. Not everything is about money.” Leila finishes her sentence with a sigh.

  “Just do not have a heart attack if you find something!” Sarah does not miss the chance to tease her mother while giving a slight smile without losing focus on her reading.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “You are funny! And how was school today?”

  “It was all normal, I am still undefeated, but the boys do not want to let me play soccer anymore.”

  “Do you not think it would be nice to let them win once in a while?” Leila rummages through the kitchen looking for something in the refrigerator.

  “Not at all! They should make an effort to beat me! Oh… there is food on the stove inside the pot.”

  Sarah turns a page while remaining lying down, legs crossed, supporting the book.

  “Are you serious, Sarah? Potatoes? Again?” Leila looks in disbelief at the pot full of boiled potatoes with some rice underneath and a few pieces of meat in the corner. “Seriously! You must dream about potatoes, it is not possible.”

  “Dad did not complain…”

  “He does not care about anything. A bottomless pit. It even seems like you take after him.”

  Leila approaches the couch with the pot in one hand and a fork in the other.

  “Heeey…” Sarah murmurs after Leila throws herself onto the couch.

  “Make some space.”

  Sarah sits cross-legged while placing the pillow on her legs to support the book. Then she lightly bumps into her mother on purpose.

  “Hey! Calm down, creature!”

  “Soon you will call me a fossil too.” Sarah comments in a low tone with a slight smile.

  “Hmm… great idea. You would definitely be a Cus-Cus fossil. As troublesome as one!” Leila lets out a big laugh while searching for a channel on the television with the remote control.

  “That would not be so bad. I could run around freely without worrying about homework.”

  “I would not want to be your teacher.” Leila continues her search with the remote control. “Now be quiet, I want to see the news about my team!”

  “Our team!” Sarah closes the book and sits at the corner of the couch.

  A few minutes later and Sarah is already leaning her head on her mother’s shoulders, who is still finishing the little food left in the pot.

  “The royalty thinks they can… A new shipment of human slaves captured in the desert is arriving to work at the commercial port with… New unsolved kidnapping cases are piling up… The wall that divides us will fall one day… Ice creams for me, for you and for everyone… A new treatment with N2 that will return your youth in the blink of an… They are superior, what can we do? The world belongs to the… The Atlás tournament ended with another noble gaining the right to elite guard, they…”

  Channels and more channels and Leila even begins to snort.

  “He is in great form and is confirmed for today’s match!!”

  “Oh! Today we win! He will score a great goal as always!” Leila already celebrates as if victory were certain.

  “Calm down mom, that team is annoying, they always make things difficult for us.” Sarah gives a warning while her eyes and thoughts are still lost among the various lines she heard on the TV.

  “They are playing badly, this year they get relegated.” Leila sentences the rival.

  “Well… if they play like in the last round, it is a sure win!” Sarah joins the excitement.

  “Do we have popcorn stored?” Leila already plans the night.

  “Yes, there is half a package left. Make sure you do not forget to add butter this time.”

  “You are spoiled, you see!” Leila stands up from the couch after finishing the part of the program that talks about her team. She heads to the kitchen to wash the pot and drink some water.

  The day passes, night arrives, the match begins. The two cheer for every play while eating popcorn and complaining about the refereeing.

  Sarah’s father is not at home.

  And no one comments on it.

  The match ends with a narrow victory.

  Mother and daughter, happy, go to their rooms and to their beds.

  Sarah because she will be able to tease the boys who support the rivals, and Leila excited for another day of excavation.

  The lights go out, and silence fills the house, occupying the emptiness left by them.

  Outside, the night remains awake.