"Mr. Lukas, please, could you just help me out here," Ellie begged.
"Mrs. Fisher-Carol, I cannot," Mark Lukas said. "I am very sorry about your daughter."
Ellie stared at the half-filled forms in her hands. Everything important was still printed on paper. That meant everything important was nearly impossible to fake. She'd gotten one council member to sign, but it was increasingly hard to find a second, even though Ellie had faked her husband's sloppy signature quite well.
Every day after work, she'd try. Amery only needed the bus forms, because Itex really didn't care who Diego sent their way. Even the tree stump in Diego could make a decent living in Itex. Ellie knew Amery could do amazing things in Itex. She just needed help to escape Diego's standards. If only Selvin could face the facts and admit that Amery could never be anything in Diego without this chance. If only he could see his third child as she really was.
"Mom, how are things going?" Amery asked the day Ellie came home earlier than usual. She knew Amery had completed the Itex twelve-grade genetics final. Everything hinged on that bus ticket.
"Ame, honey, things are still the same," Ellie admitted. Amery looked worried, an expression she didn't show often.
"There's only three weeks left. How can I get on if we're not done?" Amery asked.
"Don’t worry. I'll figure something out." A total lie, but Ellie didn't want Amery stressing out. This Ellie's problem to tackle, not Amery's problem.
"Okay Mom," Amery said, grabbing her backpack. "I believe in you." If this were anything ordinary, Amery would be correct in believing in her super-mom, except this was anything but ordinary.
Ellie almost talked to Selvin about it. Almost. She caught herself just in time. The only reason she had to do any of this was because Selvin wasn't on board. Time was running out, and Ellie needed one more of the twelve council members to sign. Just one. How hard could it be?
Ellie knew she shouldn't have dared that simple question. After going through the remaining eleven members, Ellie was back to council member Mark Lucas.
"Mr. Lucas, please," Ellie begged. "The future of a child hangs in your answer. Please consider that fact."
Mark gave Ellie a weary look. "Ms. Fisher, all of us in the council know the objections your husband made against the transfer. I simply cannot sign off under these circumstances no matter how much you tell me Mr. Carol changed his mind, even if Ms. Nightwing could," Mark replied in an even tone. "I am sorry about your daughter. What was her name?"
Ellie paled. "Amery. Amery Moorea Carol. And please do not speak of her in past tense."
"My apologies," Mark said without looking up. "Now please, would you allow me to return to my mountain of work? Thank you."
That night, Ellie went home and cried. She did not let Selvin comfort her, as hard as he tried. He couldn't know what was happening until Amery was out of the city-state territory, out of Diego jurisdiction. There was nothing she could do now but hope.
"Mom, how're things going?" Amery asked the week before the transfer. "Is everything ready?"
Ellie started at her daughter with blank eyes. "I couldn't, Ame. They wouldn't let me," Ellie barely whispered. "Here, take this anyway. It might work if they don't look too hard."
Amery stared at the half-completed form. "But… only one council member signed it."
"It'll have to do," Ellie sighed. "There were… technical difficulties." 598Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJs4PnpuKdt
