Eiko woke up disoriented and dizzy. For a moment, panic prickled under her skin, until she shifted, and felt the sheer space around her. Sheets soft as clouds, pillows piled like a fortress... This wasn’t her sofa. 

Memory filtered back slowly: the endless flight, as bad if not worse as she had expected it to be, the pain that had to flare up in the sky... Ibe hadn’t even tried to chatter. She just handed her the printed performer briefer, and kept bringing her bottled water faster than the flight attendants could. She later half-carried Eiko off the plane and into a black town car. 

The ride blurred into darkness. By the time they arrived, Eiko was asleep on her shoulder. She’d barely seen the lobby before a bellhop guided her into an elevator; didn't change, fell straight into the bed, cursing her dumb self for agreeing to this nightmare. Never got to see the room either.

Now, however, as Eiko got up, in the golden evening light spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the room finally came into view. Her eyes widened in awe.

A plush lounge area stretched before her, surrounded by armchairs and one of those sleek, modern couches, its upholstery a black-and-white pattern, somewhere between a designer suit jacket and a hypnotic optical illusion. Above, a sparkly chandelier, like something out of a European period drama, glinted with luxury. And the TV… easily the flattest she’d ever seen in real life.

There was no doubt. This place was at least twice the size of her entire apartment, and probably cost ten times as much.

Eiko swung her legs out from the mountain of pillows and padded across the thick carpet, approaching the window. The city spread out far below, skyscrapers glittering with the reflections of the orange setting sun. 

Maybe it wasn't a bad decision to come here. To her own surprise, her fatigue seemed to be under control, and the pain was a low four. She nodded to herself, and was about to turn around before she noticed it: a small yellow sticky note pressed to the glass, right at eye level. A quiet laugh slipped from Eiko's lips. Only Ibe would have know exactly where she’d go first.

The note read:

Good morning. Or evening. Or night? Whenever you wake up. Welcome to New York! Hope you're feeling better. I'll be at the VIP lounge. 10 PM. Floor 11. See you there if you feel alright, no worries if not ^_^. 

Ibe.