↳An Air's Got to Eat [for Miraj]
With another sunrise, came another day. The sunlight leaked through the curtains covering the window in Rana’s room. Just by looking at the curtains it was evident that they were handmade. The fabric used was thin and allowed the light to pass through its threads. However, the main problem was that they were not the same size. One was a couple of inches wider than the other, causing them to meet closer to the right side of the window. The other issue with them was that they didn’t touch. There was a space between them that allowed the light to shine through and land on the bed.
Rana tried her best to get as much sleep as possible, but when the line of light hit her pillow and she began hearing the hustling and bustling of people outside she knew it was time she got up. The sounds of people outside were louder with her window open a crack. At times it was better to keep it closed depending on the rain or how much dust was being picked up by people and carts. However, she enjoyed the breeze. Her room felt extremely stuffy and twice as small as it actually was –and it was a very small room- when the window was closed.
Throwing the blankets off of herself, she sat up and swung her feet off of the bed. She sat there for a couple of moments as she stretched before standing up. Walking over to the window, she opened the curtains and glanced outside. People were in full swing and ready for the day. It was definitely morning, but it wasn’t the crack of dawn. She knew that her brother, Miraj, must have already woken up and went to work. She wondered what he would be doing for the day. His work always varied. He appeared to enjoy doing odd end jobs. Perhaps it was a way to keep himself busy?
She turned her attention away from the window and to the tiny dresser where she kept her clothes. Grabbing an outfit for the day, she opened her door and walked across the hallway to the bathroom. She took a quick shower, being conscious of how much water she was using, and finished using the bathroom by brushing her teeth and hair. It didn’t take her long to put on her clothes and walk back into her room. She tossed her pajamas onto her bed and slipped her feet into her boots. As she walked down the hall she paused to lift up one foot and pull the boot all the way on before taking a step and repeating the process with the other one.
While Rana might have picked up an odd job when it was requested of her –which was a very rare occurrence- she mostly just worked in the shop under where she and her brother lived. The entire small building was owned by their guardian. He was their parent’s friend. And while he was always patient and kind, Rana wondered if he ever felt that she and Miraj were a burden. They were getting to the age where it might be easier for them to get their own place, at least to ease the strain it was putting on their guardian. Although, it wouldn’t be as simple as they might like it to be. Living space in the capital was expensive. And living alone always posed its own dangerous risks. Especially if anyone found out their race.
Once she was down stairs she entered the shop from the back and greeted the owner before getting right to work.
The work day was rather dull, and by the time Rana’s shift was over there wasn’t much else to do. She spent a lot of time cleaning and straightening up. “I won’t be out too long, I’m just going to find something to eat and then I should be back” she told her guardian with a smile before walking out of the building and onto the street. She hadn’t seen her brother all day, which meant he was definitely busy. Rana wondered what time he would get home, she hoped he wouldn’t be out too late. He needed rest just like anyone else.
A light sigh left her as she walked past a small stall and glanced at a few of the restaurants she passed. Most of the restaurants on the street she knew, but occasionally one would shut down and another would take its place. It always depended on how well the place did. And which one Rana chose to eat at always depended on the atmosphere. She wasn’t about to sit and eat somewhere that Earths went to loudly belittle Airs.
