The Earth’s night sky was naked before her eyes, unashamedly baring its beauty to her moon-washed face and reflecting off her emerald eyes. She stared with her mouth agape, afraid to blink as she watched the beams of stars speed by the Earth. Her feet firmly planted upon the ground, she stretched to reach the capture button on her camera. The whirling whiz of her computer confirmed that she was in the process of capturing the dance being performed in the sky. Without breaking her gaze, she eased herself to the ground and sat beneath the endless blanket of glittering lights, and though she didn’t wish to close her eyes, sleep eventually took her.

The comforting silence of the night gave way to the sounds of morning. Cera laid among the dew-covered grass and rubbed her eyes as sunbeams encouraged her to wake. The whirl of her computer was still humming as she made her way to her gear and with a few clicks her night-long labor of love was finished. Cera massaged her neck and stretched her back before beginning the long process of packing her gear into her hatchback, completely unaware of the time.

A shout cut through the chirping morning songbirds, startling her. “Cera! Hey, Cera! You’re going to be late!” The warning rang louder and louder from her pocket until she managed to push the right button to silence its chilling reminder that she was already running behind schedule. Slamming the hatchback closed, Cera released a mournful sigh as she plopped herself behind the steering wheel and turned her wheels towards work.

Turning on her favorite podcast provided comfort and she eagerly listened to the hostess recount the events of last night’s meteor shower. “Leonids did not disappoint the onlooker,” the hostess stated, “and what a shame if you didn’t get to capture this moment. The Comet Tempel-Tuttle won’t be accompanying this meteor shower again for another 33 years. If you missed it, then I encourage you to take a look at all the pictures and videos that will be shared by other listeners on my website: The Milky Spiral.” Cera grinned with excitement at the opportunity to share her passion with strangers online, but that grin faded as she pulled into her parking spot at work.

Another heavy sigh escaped her lips as she heaved herself out of her car. Feeling the life force being sucked from her body with each step she made towards the doors of her imprisonment she struggled internally with the desire to call in sick. “You look absolutely awful Cera. There’s grass stuck to your face.” Lane leaned around the corner and gave Cera another look over before continuing, “Did you at least bring a change of clothes this time?”

“That’s what my stylish duffel bag is for, Lane.” Cera turned her torso revealing a haggard-looking bag with a busted zipper.

“I hope your choice of clothing is better than your choice of luggage. I’d join you in the company locker room, but I’m needed in the lab. We’re really close to a breakthrough in our study, so close I can feel it in my feels sack.” Her fist gave three light taps on her chest.

“You mean your heart?”

“Yeah, that.”

Cera giggled, “Geez Lane, you’re a lead scientist and you call your vital organ a ‘feels sack’.”

Lane shrugged before giving Cera a quick hug and peeling the grass leaf off of her face. “It’s part of my charm and why we’ve been besties since elementary school. I’m going on ahead. I’ll see you at the lab soon. Oh! Bring me a medium black coffee on your way in, okay? Thanks!” Lane hurried off before Cera could reject being her errand girl. Cera let loose another sigh as she slipped off to get ready for the day.

Freshly dressed, Cera exited the cafeteria with Lane’s order of coffee and made a beeline towards the lab. The doors whooshed open to reveal a busy environment of lab coat-clad scientists and assistants. “Just arriving to work are we Cera?” grumbled Jeremiah, the Lead Lab Assistant. He cut through the crowd to plant himself in her path. Cera avoided eye contact as she nervously looked around the room, all the while Jeremiah loomed before her expecting an explanation. 

Lane slipped from behind Jeremiah, “Of course she’s not just arriving. She’s been here, but I had her run to get me some vital liquid fuel for my research. Leave her be, Jeremiah.”