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Buddy’s eyes shift frantically, his face an ugly purple as he yells something drowned out by the crowd.

Marek looks at him, his voice hard. “Buddy Fischer, you are hereby banished from this community. You must leave immediately, taking nothing with you.”

Some gasp. Most are quiet.

Buddy freezes, then starts laughing slowly. “You’re joking right?”

Marek says nothing. Only makes a gesture with his hands. Then Astrid and Declan move to take Buddy away.

He tries to shove them back. “No. No.” His face turns pale, and in place of laughter his voice fills with a trembling rage. “That’s a death sentence! I paid for this life. You can’t take it away from me. You can’t… Let go of me--” His voice is cut off as he’s dragged from the room, and Marek looks around at the stunned members of our colony.

We have all gone from disgust to joy to shock in the span of mere minutes. Everything is changing. Where do we go from here?

The moment seems to stretch on for an aching eternity.

Finally, Lana stands, then claps.

The sound is jarring at first. Until one by one other women stand and join her.

I follow suit, lending my hands to the cacophony of sound. Marek follows. The men join in.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

A few remain quiet, looking around uneasily, a stark realization creeping onto their faces. They are not entitled to their partners. They are not entitled to anyone. Not here. Not on Mars.

Marek exhales. I hold his gaze as cheers break out. Tears burn my eyes.

Today, he made a stand.

Today, he freed us.

* * *

Relief washes over me in waves. The time for secrets and sneaking kisses is past. The shame and fear in me is gone. I’m free, and smiling, and giddy with excitement. I want to shout out, “I’m in love with Marek Volkav.”

But there is something else I must do first.

The clapping fades, and as people begin to leave the ballroom, I go to stand by Marek’s side. Something in my body relaxes once I’m near him. He soothes my soul in a way none other ever has. It’s good to have him close again. To smell his earthy scent that reminds me of home.

He reaches for my hand, and though it pains me, I pull away. “I need to tell Robert first. He’s a good guy. He deserves to know before everyone else does.”

Marek nods, staying back, though his eyes devour me with hunger. “I understand. No need to cause unnecessary hurt.”

I bite my lip, a ball of nerves building in my gut as I prepare for what I must do. I look around for my pre-selected partner, but don’t see him anywhere. He must still be recovering in his room. Or maybe he left quickly? I glance at Marek, hoping my anxiety isn’t showing. “I’ll see you soon.” He smiles warmly, and I shuffle away, heading back to my suite.

Robert’s suite.

Our suite.

Oh God. This is going to be difficult.

He was always kind. Always caring. I hope he finds someone to share his nights with. I hope he doesn’t take this too hard. My thoughts run wild, imagining a hundred different ways this conversation can go. Will he be sad? Angry? I don’t even know what to expect. I hardly know him at all.

My thoughts are still spiraling when I make it to the door, and feel the exhaustion of the day catch up to me. My limbs are heavy. My head foggy. And I’m about ready to puke.

I step into the hall. There’s a silence to the space that I don’t feel within myself.

Deep breaths, Zae. Deep breaths.