I hoped I could finish the set-up before she arrived.
The ladder wobbled violently underneath me as I drilled the last screw into place. With a jump, I hopped down and ignored the crash as I looked at my handiwork. Curved strips of LED lights ran along the bedroom ceiling, culminating in a circle around a group of smart bulbs.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF7lB9yAhf
Iskra had asked about these weeks ago. Her antenna had quivered as she clasped her four hands into pairs, and in her soft voice, she’d asked if I could help her with a small project. Some lights for her room, she’d told me—nothing major.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqsPHe1ChB
That was half true.
Not that I minded the challenge. I had one request though; she had to assist me. She had agreed faster than I had expected, and a trace of a smile graced her face when I asked. The following weeks were more fun than any in months. Dinners were spent discussing patterns and arguing with second-hand stores over speakers. Sleepless nights getting the programming to work once we’d gotten all the electronics.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVakGPZvcw
Now, though, it was complete. Only the last few checks remained, and she would have her system. A sense of loss flushed through me at the thought, and I dismissed it. It had been fun. That was important to remember, and I gained more skills during the process.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvNJOk6uI1
With a swift poke, I tested the four miniature speakers hidden in the corners of the room. Solid. Good, I knew she wouldn’t exactly be blasting rock music, but better to be safe than sorry.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCR8oo7hWQ
I checked the oversized lamp on her desk and smiled as the disk tray slid out silently. My friend had loaned us his 3D printer, and this was the design she wanted. Place in the disk, pull the cord, and wallah. Music and lights. Or so I hoped.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCMOT85UTb
My hand trembled as I grabbed one of her meditation CDs at random and placed it into the tray with care. Once it had sat inside, and I heard the soft whir of the fans, I yanked the cord.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hMBkR44Mb
Nothing happened.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2W0Dr5wiF
I cursed and tugged the cord twice more. Still nothing.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiLakbvMdY
She would be home soon, so I started the process that any good tech geek followed when fixing things. I turned it off at the wall and tried it again. Still nothing. Onto the next plan, unplugging everything and trying it again.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDQmeFRpsY
I found it after fifteen minutes of annoyed grumbling. We had gotten a large hanging light cheap off a guy online. It had worked at his house, and neither of us had bothered to recheck it before we’d installed it. But now that I held it in my hand, I could see the issue. One wire had frayed enough it wasn’t getting a signal.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhzZamXz3i
As the centerpiece, we’d coded it as a starting point, and if it didn’t work, nothing else would go.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv1djnGQew
I was no electrician, so no tools in the house to fix it. That might mean I’d need to check the code. The clock read four pm, and I knew she’d be home by five. I should be able to manage it in an hour, and I guessed I’d have to.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9S0TxOUWH
Light in hand, I hurried to my room and booted up the computer. It was time to get to work.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0BWz44Wbb
At five to five, I was ready, or so I hoped. With my fingers crossed, I tugged on the cord. A drum softly played behind me as it spread out across the room. My gut stopped churning as I watched a pale blue light run along the various strips to join in the center.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKbQ0Lnkzh
Laughter bubbled up, and I let it out with abandon. It worked! Weeks of effort, and it worked!194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokeqhmp3QB
The door opening caught me off guard, and I spun to catch sight of my roommate. She paused, her white hair bathed in color as she stared up at the ceiling. As though in a trance, her wings partially unfurled, and she moved to my side.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJM1PPc0gA
“I’m sorry about the center lamp. I—”194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGmN4YBFJn
Her top left hand covered my mouth as her other hand clutched at mine. Together we stood, and I felt the fur brush against my arm as she swayed to the music. I moved along, and each time the bell chimed, we gently bumped into each other.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3gGWkiCcx
When the song ended and the light faded away, she turned to me. I wasn’t sure what to say when she squeezed me into a hug. I hugged back as her white and black splotched wings encircled me, and together stayed as the next song started. Light bathed us, and her eyes refracted it as no human ever could.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl8k18Fspe
My forehead itched as her antenna tickled my face, and I heard her next whisper as though she'd shouted it.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR3tYjvwE3
“Thank you.”194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESVoYUPyya
The room darkened before exploding in color as LEDs brightened without warning. I couldn’t tell if she was blushing or if it was the lights. I knew mine wasn’t, and I hoped she knew.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WuwdUmglN
“No problem. I’m always happy to help.” I tried to keep eye contact as I spoke.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqy48VxJWV
She giggled and pulled away from me. I stood, awkward, until she laid down and gestured for me to join her. My mind raced, wondering what she was implying, until I saw how focused she was on the spectacle.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PI4skwMLD
Together, we lay on the floor and watched the colors drift. It was nice to relax for a change. My vision blurred as the music mixed with the lights and her soft breathing. Her hand retook mine, and I gave it a small squeeze involuntarily. I smiled as I felt her return it.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpUWPRc8Bm
My eyes closed as the late nights caught up with me, and even through my eyelids, the colors danced. Soon they faded away until morning, when I opened my eyes to see three sets of rainbows.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt9NaTgmdV
One on the ceiling and two in her eyes.194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz2ewXFcWT
194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobFdL0siFd
