I hoped I could finish the set-up before she arrived.
The ladder wobbled violently underneath me as I drilled the last screw into place. With a jump, I hopped down and ignored the crash as I looked at my handiwork. Curved strips of LED lights ran along the bedroom ceiling, culminating in a circle around a group of smart bulbs.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWKtYaUAAf
Iskra had asked about these weeks ago. Her antenna had quivered as she clasped her four hands into pairs, and in her soft voice, she’d asked if I could help her with a small project. Some lights for her room, she’d told me—nothing major.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijtSvi7QRm
That was half true.
Not that I minded the challenge. I had one request though; she had to assist me. She had agreed faster than I had expected, and a trace of a smile graced her face when I asked. The following weeks were more fun than any in months. Dinners were spent discussing patterns and arguing with second-hand stores over speakers. Sleepless nights getting the programming to work once we’d gotten all the electronics.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFvuPIfLCf
Now, though, it was complete. Only the last few checks remained, and she would have her system. A sense of loss flushed through me at the thought, and I dismissed it. It had been fun. That was important to remember, and I gained more skills during the process.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZoXSE267K
With a swift poke, I tested the four miniature speakers hidden in the corners of the room. Solid. Good, I knew she wouldn’t exactly be blasting rock music, but better to be safe than sorry.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekcL4dpcyN
I checked the oversized lamp on her desk and smiled as the disk tray slid out silently. My friend had loaned us his 3D printer, and this was the design she wanted. Place in the disk, pull the cord, and wallah. Music and lights. Or so I hoped.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuLjzsvoln
My hand trembled as I grabbed one of her meditation CDs at random and placed it into the tray with care. Once it had sat inside, and I heard the soft whir of the fans, I yanked the cord.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9L2N3iRcw
Nothing happened.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXGKrFlp37
I cursed and tugged the cord twice more. Still nothing.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeHO2qU0Js
She would be home soon, so I started the process that any good tech geek followed when fixing things. I turned it off at the wall and tried it again. Still nothing. Onto the next plan, unplugging everything and trying it again.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAuwGyUEXj
I found it after fifteen minutes of annoyed grumbling. We had gotten a large hanging light cheap off a guy online. It had worked at his house, and neither of us had bothered to recheck it before we’d installed it. But now that I held it in my hand, I could see the issue. One wire had frayed enough it wasn’t getting a signal.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQb8BkeBk3
As the centerpiece, we’d coded it as a starting point, and if it didn’t work, nothing else would go.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXaKrjVwku
I was no electrician, so no tools in the house to fix it. That might mean I’d need to check the code. The clock read four pm, and I knew she’d be home by five. I should be able to manage it in an hour, and I guessed I’d have to.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VkPXQKDng
Light in hand, I hurried to my room and booted up the computer. It was time to get to work.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtqZl4RDAS
At five to five, I was ready, or so I hoped. With my fingers crossed, I tugged on the cord. A drum softly played behind me as it spread out across the room. My gut stopped churning as I watched a pale blue light run along the various strips to join in the center.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpge7K1HuD7
Laughter bubbled up, and I let it out with abandon. It worked! Weeks of effort, and it worked!379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkzbo9nIuj
The door opening caught me off guard, and I spun to catch sight of my roommate. She paused, her white hair bathed in color as she stared up at the ceiling. As though in a trance, her wings partially unfurled, and she moved to my side.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbeHoCPF1v
“I’m sorry about the center lamp. I—”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEs1fauMx8
Her top left hand covered my mouth as her other hand clutched at mine. Together we stood, and I felt the fur brush against my arm as she swayed to the music. I moved along, and each time the bell chimed, we gently bumped into each other.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTkXEjsNM2
When the song ended and the light faded away, she turned to me. I wasn’t sure what to say when she squeezed me into a hug. I hugged back as her white and black splotched wings encircled me, and together stayed as the next song started. Light bathed us, and her eyes refracted it as no human ever could.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s58ujeRBO
My forehead itched as her antenna tickled my face, and I heard her next whisper as though she'd shouted it.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ675qdJiOYQ
“Thank you.”379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WnzYT2EHd
The room darkened before exploding in color as LEDs brightened without warning. I couldn’t tell if she was blushing or if it was the lights. I knew mine wasn’t, and I hoped she knew.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ5U1HTGGH
“No problem. I’m always happy to help.” I tried to keep eye contact as I spoke.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBZwNI8j78
She giggled and pulled away from me. I stood, awkward, until she laid down and gestured for me to join her. My mind raced, wondering what she was implying, until I saw how focused she was on the spectacle.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVMjtsPj1Y
Together, we lay on the floor and watched the colors drift. It was nice to relax for a change. My vision blurred as the music mixed with the lights and her soft breathing. Her hand retook mine, and I gave it a small squeeze involuntarily. I smiled as I felt her return it.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIUcStSgYm
My eyes closed as the late nights caught up with me, and even through my eyelids, the colors danced. Soon they faded away until morning, when I opened my eyes to see three sets of rainbows.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxKRhZojUw
One on the ceiling and two in her eyes.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvFs4k5i9G
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNSZ4SyBfw
