2. Evelyn
Evelyn
ONE MONTH EARLIER…
When you turn thirty-seven, life has a way of slapping you directly in the face.
For starters, you can’t pretend to be in your “mid-thirties” anymore. That ship has sailed — and probably sunk by now.
The last time I called myself that, my baby sister Madelyn staged an intervention.
“Sis. You’re almost forty. Accept it.”
Harsh. But also, true.
I suppose it’s about time I abandon a few other illusions as well. Like the idea that Mr. Perfect is just around the corner, waiting to sweep me off my feet. That hasn’t happened yet, and I’m starting to accept it never will.
And that’s fine. Really. I have plenty to keep me occupied — an ever-growing collection of houseplants, an addiction to Candy Crush, and a to-read pile the size of Mount Everest. I don’t even have time for love, honestly.
My job keeps me busy, too. Speaking of, I used to believe that becoming a geneticist would be a smart financial decision. A stable career, a decent salary, fulfilling work. Right?
Wrong.
My paycheck is fine. I can’t complain, not really. But when you factor in my student debt, and my baby sister’s endless medical bills… what’s left at the end of the month is barely enough to keep the lights on.
I’m late with this month’s rent. Again, unfortunately. When Madelyn was just a kid, our landlord would never kick us out, but now that she’s eighteen…
He just might.
The worst part? After all this time, and all this money spent, we still don’t know what’s wrong with Madelyn. Some days, she’s herself: Upbeat and too smart for her own good. Other days? She can barely crawl out of bed.
It’s been like this ever since she was a kid. Every specialist we’ve seen just shrugs. All the tests come back negative. She should be fine.
She isn’t.
Lately, the doctors have been suggesting she’s faking it for attention. I know my baby sis better than anyone, and I know that’s not the case.
That’s part of the reason I became a geneticist in the first place. I thought that perhaps I could solve this mystery and help her get better!
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Rather than solving genetic mysteries, I spend my days studying the sperm samples from lab mice.
Not the groundbreaking work I envisioned, and it’s certainly not enough to pay the bills.
Something’s gotta give.
“Hey, sis, check this out!”
Madelyn’s voice snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts. She practically shoves her phone in my face, blocking my view of my laptop.
Today is Sunday, but I’m working from home, my laptop and my papers taking up the entire dinner table. It’s the only space where I can get some work done in our tiny apartment.
“Maddy, I’m working. We talked about this.”
“No, seriously! This is important! Just look!”
I take her phone. My train of thought is gone anyway, and it’s time for my break.
The screen displays an image of a breathtaking forest. An ancient, untouched wilderness that stretches off into the distance… with two giant moons hanging in the sky.
I blink. Xavros .
The very first human colony. The untamed planet that belongs to the ultra-rich.
“Nice picture,” I say, handing the phone back. “You want to visit Xavros? You and me both, sis. Unfortunately, we’re not billionaires.”
Madelyn rolls her eyes so hard I think she might sprain something. “Read the text, dummy. It’s a job listing. For geneticists . That’s you!”
“What?”
I take the phone again and scroll down. My eyes widen with every word.
The Department of Interstellar Affairs is hiring geneticists to study the wildlife of Xavros. And the pay is astronomical.
This isn’t just a salary increase. This is life-changing! This is enough to clear Madelyn’s bills, wipe out my student loans, and still have savings left over. For the first time in years , I briefly imagine a future that isn’t just survival.
But then reality crashes back in.
“Sounds cool, but I can’t do this.”
“What?” Madelyn’s squeal is somewhere between outrage and disbelief. “You have to ! This is everything you’ve ever wanted! Science! Adventure! Money! So much money!”
“Yeah, but what about you? Who’s going to take care of you?”
Madelyn’s expression shifts. Her excitement fades, replaced instantly by anger.
“Oh no,” she says, crossing her arms. “You are not throwing away your dream job for me. I’m an adult now. I can take care of myself.”
“You’re eighteen, Maddy. That’s barely an adult.”
“Okay, grandma ,” she scoffs. “You do realize Mom had you when she was eighteen, right?”
I groan. “That’s different.”
“Not really,” she counters. “I can take care of myself. I can get groceries delivered, I can cook, I can clean. I’ll get a job, maybe one where I can work from home. Yeah, sometimes I’m tired. Sometimes it sucks. But I’m not going to let you put your entire life on hold for me. Not anymore. You’ve done that for the past decade. You’ve paid your dues. It’s time you choose you .”
“Maddy—”
“Just try it,” she pleads. “Go. If it doesn’t work out, if I really need you, I’ll tell you. But you have to stop treating me like I’m still a child. I’m not, Eve.”
I lean back in my chair and let out a deep sigh.
She’s not wrong. This job could change both our lives for the better… but can I really leave her? I’m not just moving to a different city — this is another planet we’re talking about! Even with the hyperjump, I’ll be at least a full week of travel away, if not more.
“Are you sure about this?”
“One hundred percent,” Maddy says.
At that moment, a little pop-up appears in the corner of my laptop, signaling a new email has landed in my inbox.
URGENT: Rent was due last week!!
I feel a jolt of anxiety in my gut. What’s the alternative? Keep on struggling? It’s not like life is exactly working out right now.
Perhaps this is the sign I’ve been waiting for.
“Okay,” I say. “Okay. Maybe you’re right. Maybe… maybe it’s time. I’ll have to do some more research, make sure this offer is legit, but… I’ll give it some serious thought.”
Madelyn lets out a victorious squeal and launches herself into my arms. “Thank you, sis! I love you!”
“Love you, too, Maddy. Nice speech, by the way. How long have you been practicing it?”
“Only every day since my birthday,” she grins. “How was it?”
“Pretty impressive.”
For the time in a long time, I feel something I haven’t felt in ages. I think this feeling is called hope .