reconnect
inch-thick re-enforced organic glass
floor to ceiling
wall to wall
sliding glass main entrance
chrome elevator doors
the hum of climate control
the taste of filtered air
muted whisperings of the city
the soft tone of the announcer
doors open
doors close
smooth, flat, tactile selectors
the hum of elevator microturbines
the announcer
doors open
doors close
dark grey synthetic woolen carpet
medium pile
white plasterboard walls
black ceilings and small yellow downlights
doors
Vitoria stands facing the door
still
listening
–
nothing
the walls would be sound-proof, but her senses tell her the other apartments are occupied
large apartments
the door is black painted organic wood, like the others in the hall
there is no call interface or locking pannel
beneath its visible surface, the door is filled with electronics, a gatekeeper system, and a short range WNI
the gatekeeper has acknowledge her presence and her authorization to enter
but will not open until she requests it
the whipsers of the city are gone
only the soft exhale of the climate-control ducts remains
Vitoria blinks
sends an open command pulse
she hears the latches and bolts slide lazily and stop with a thump
the door slowly eases open until it’s ninety degrees to the wall
she steps into the apartment
the door closes behind her
Vitoria sends a pulse to the housekeeper system, commanding it to turn on the lights
it’s larger than she had imagined
she stands in a small foyer-like area, intended as a place for habitants to leave their shoes
openning up before her is a living area that is larger than her own apartment in its entirity
the space rivals a small office
there is a fully equiped kitchen with a wide island-style preparation bench
being a corner apartment, the living area is edged by floor to ceiling organic glass windows
where the windows meet the inner walls, alcoves house thick curtains that can be drawn across the full length of them
in the living space there is a dining table to seat ten
two coffee tables, modular couches and cushions that can accomodate twenty people comfortably
the rest of the apartment isn’t immediately visible, but she suspects she will find at least four bedrooms with ensuites
two full bathrooms, two studies and one other smaller living space
it is a house in a high-rise complex
Vitoria puts her bag down at the door
walks to the centre of the living area
the casual sense of the urbane is conflicting with her context for being here
this is a space to enjoy
to relax
and she feels so far away from both
what she feels, is exhaustion
she sits down on one of the sofas
then slowly lays her body down
her eyes open
someone is on the other side of the door
neither the housekeeper nor the gatekeeper have alerted her
she just knows
Vitoria stands
it’s still dark outside
the city still glimmering with rain
she turns around to the foyer
the door unlocks and slowly swings open
standing in the hallway is a young-woman her own age
and they stare at each-other
perfectly still
staring
hardly breathing
tears slide silently from Vitoria’s eyes
and the woman takes very slow and deliberate steps into the foyer
the door closes
she continues to move, ever so slowly
Vitoria has kept herself silent as best she can
but her breathing forces quiet whimpers as she cries
the woman has begun to cry silently in sympathy
and they are both overwhelmed
for a moment they stand only an arms-length apart
drinking in the presence of one another
then they both move and embrace
openly weep
they are both so tired that they lower themselves to their knees on the carpet
– oh my god Seoul
Vitoria says between sobs
– i’ve missed you
Seoul’s body shakes gently as they hold tightly to one-another
– i’ve missed you so much