A California sleep

Anna leaned back into the embrace of the oak rocking chair. From the vantage on the porch, her gaze effortlessly drifted to her two little daughters, Rosita and Elisa, meticulously scooping dirt with their brand-new toy shovels. Their "treasure hunt," as Rosita proudly declared each time she unearthed a strangely colored pebble or a mere sliver of metal buried deep within the soil. These "metal treasures" had lately yielded a bounty of such curiosities in their garden.

Today was another sun-drenched day in California. A day perfectly suited for Noah's company. Her husband, too, reveled in the sun's embrace, especially with an icy glass of lemonade in hand. Alas, Noah's company had recently undergone significant personnel deployment, leaving their home often devoid of his presence. Yet, Anna found solace in her neighbor's companionship. Lily, a perpetually cheerful woman, had also lost her husband just last month during a border assignment. They exchanged warm waves over the fence that separated them.

"Your lemonade, madam," Umeko, the family's new helper, materialized beside her, carefully extending a silver tray bearing the refreshing drink.

"Thank you, Umeko," Anna accepted it, taking a long, thirst-quenching sip.

"Another beautiful day, isn't it, madam?" Umeko offered.

"Indeed," Anna replied, "I'm truly grateful for your presence, Umeko. This headache has plagued me relentlessly for months."

"You deserve to rest, madam. You once worked at your computer for three weeks straight, subsisting only on mineral water."

"And now, even doing laundry has your assistance. As you can see, I am fortunate to barely have to stir from my beloved rocking chair, free to simply bask in a long day under the sun," Anna said, her eyes drifting towards the distant horizon where she could discern the new town building's roof.

Umeko settled into an armchair on the opposite side of the porch, joining Anna in admiring the sunlight dancing off the pristine glass panes.

"They say it's a new project by some tech billionaire. It's set to open in about two days," Umeko remarked.

Anna murmured in awe. She admired its sleek contours, especially the shuttle-shaped spire. She wondered what it would feel like to step inside.

***

"Good morning, Lily."

"Good morning, Anna."

As was their custom, Anna and Lily exchanged greetings across the fence. Noah was again preoccupied with new projects.

Little Elisa approached her, proudly displaying a treasure she had unearthed near the fence – a fragment of army-green polymer.

"Well done, Elisa," Anna murmured, gently stroking the child's head. The wisps of golden hair felt delightful beneath her fingertips. Soon, Rosita pulled Elisa back to their private patch of earth, resuming their digging with the fervor of seasoned archaeologists.

Yet, even the warm California sun could not ward off the encroaching headache. Today, it was more intense than ever. Anna hunched over in her rocking chair, clutching her head, crying out Umeko's name.

From inside the house, Umeko, lemonade in hand, hurried to Anna's side.

"Forgive me, madam. Here is your lemonade."

"Lemonade won't cure this headache, Umeko. Fetch the yellow medicine from the cabinet, now!" Anna all but shrieked.

"Madam, lemonade is very good for you. I promise you'll feel better after it."

Anna exploded. She slapped the tray of lemonade from Umeko's hand and struggled to her feet, stumbling towards the doorway. The images before her eyes blurred into a chaotic jumble of colors. Rosita and Elisa were laughing in their churned-up patch of earth. Lily was shaking out the freshly washed sheet over the white fence, appearing and disappearing in the flickering vision.

As soon as she stood, Anna collapsed back into the chair, succumbing to unconsciousness. The night of oblivion swallowed her whole.

***

"Regrettably, our technology can only be applied to patients with 80% of their bodies intact."

"So, the other three…?"

"There is nothing more we can do, Doctor Xavier."

"But it is fortunate that we could still save the leading genetic technology doctor. She will be invaluable as humanity enters a new era."

"I hear the human gene digitalization project has also been successfully tested on younger subjects. The chaotic world today is not an ideal environment for raising a child. The government is targeting families who have suffered such losses, as they are willing to pay for anything."

"Is that so… How agony it is."

***

A deafening explosion rent the air.

Anna jolted awake in her familiar rocking chair. A hazy mist obscured the glass building, the town's pride. No longer did the bright sun bathe the porch floor. A deep black shrouded the state's sky, signaling an impending storm.

"Rosita, Elisa. Inside, now!" Anna waved her arms frantically.

"Two more minutes, Mama Anna," Rosita scooped a large shovelful of dirt into her bucket. Elisa mimicked her sister, refusing to leave the grass. Neither seemed to understand how close the storm was.

"Don't make me tell you again," Anna started to rise from the chair to reach the children, but the headache held her captive. She bumped the table, sending the empty lemonade glass crashing onto the porch, shattering into countless pieces.

"Umeko, what's happening? Why aren't they listening to me?" Anna pleaded with Umeko, who sat in the armchair beside her.

No longer moving with her usual briskness, Umeko slowly rose from her seat, approaching Anna with an unperturbed expression.

"I'll go upstairs and make their beds now. You bring them inside, change their clothes, and prepare dinner for us tonight, okay?" Anna tried to keep her mind clear to organize everything.

"Madam," Umeko said, taking Anna's hand to reassure her, "Please listen to me. Do not worry, madam. Where there is family, there you are safe."

Upon hearing this, Anna's eyes softened as if released from some psychological shackles.

"Where there is family, there you are safe," Anna repeated Umeko's words.

She allowed Umeko to guide her back to the chair. The storm was now only a few blocks away, yet the two children continued to play in their patch of earth.

Under the faint light from the porch lamp above, Anna looked down at her arms and legs. For a fleeting moment, the metallic glint reflected in her eyes.

Anna smiled, repeating Umeko's words.

The storm descended. A sheet of white rain swept away the figures of the two children, Lily, Umeko, and the whole town. Only a chaotic, blurred vision remained before her eyes.

And Anna sank back into sleep. Forever.