Raleka had picked up the brochure for the soulstone program on her way out of the student center this afternoon, and she stared at it now, resting on the couch. It always seemed to her that the prospect of children just fell into her lap instead of being part of her initial intentions. And yet, she couldn't see why she shouldn't do this.
It was one of those quiet minutes of the day, the moments where she could sit quietly and just enjoy the silence. It wouldn't be long before Annie burst the door open to greet her, throwing a hug around her neck, before crooning to his familiars. Sometimes it made her chest ache, the way he would talk to his flitterat like it was a person. She knew he'd be living in the dorms next year, when he would be a junior - it was something they had talked about and agreed on. He'd look for a single room for himself, where he could keep all of his animals. And she'd be alone in her apartment again, alone with her plants.
She hadn't ever felt lonely before Annie came along. The solitude had calmed her, made her feel more aware of herself and her surroundings. But now, fear struck her heart at the thought of being in a silent house. Even the silence now, this still before the storm, made her uneasy. Raleka wondered briefly, would Annie resent a child that was genetically hers? She knew he'd love a sibling, but would he love one who was more... hers? Of course, nobody could compete with that little Fey's place in her heart. But did he know that?
Some part of her really wanted this, though. Raleka would have an extra room, some extra money. She was graduating within the month, and she'd likely get a permanent job shortly after. Truly, the hybrid knew she had already made her decision, and now it was only a matter of time before she followed up on it. She resolved to put the brochure on her refrigerator for now, and told herself that she'd know when the time was right, whether that time was tomorrow or two months from now.
