Behind the last window

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room.

He was the new professor, joining the school only days before. She stood there now staring at him, studying him. He stood with his back to her, she could see the muscles of his back rippling through his suit jacket. His broad shoulders made the jacket just a slightly bit too tight.

The room was small, functional, and yet full of curiosities. His quarters consisted of a small bed, dresser, bathing room and desk. Every item was simple and intended for use, not beauty, but then there was the window, the coloured light that danced across the room from the small glass window above and beyond his desk. There were also the shelves, the many, many shelves that spiralled up and around the stained glass window. The shelves were filled with items, relics of the past, memories and reminders. What she wouldn’t do to lounge in that bed and inspect each trinket, peruse every book and perhaps even play one of the instruments.

“What is your name again?” He said distractedly. “Ashley” she whispered her name like the sound of her voice could startle the past.

“And you teach…” he trailed off, still not looking at her, expecting her to finish his sentence. “Literature, Sir” she paused and then waited for him to respond but he remained silent. Not wishing her work to be dismissed so easily she then said a little more boldly “I study the writings of the past, I teach my students language, stories and culture. They learn the value of the written word. They will write our story someday for the future to find, they must be prepared, they will understand and my students will not make the same mistakes.”

As she spoke he slowly turned and focused his gaze directly on her and listened. His green eyes were distracting, and disturbing, and almost prevented her from finishing her answer, rushing the last few words she went silent.

She wondered what he saw as he looked at her. Her clothes were a stark difference from the formality of his own. New clothing was no longer made, but there were plenty and plenty of used garments, old clothing that could be repurposed, shared and passed down through generations. From her readings, she knew that there used to be “fashion” changing trends where everyone dressed alike and clothing was considered disposable. She understood that there were situations where one would dress formally and others where one would dress more casually, with different clothing for every environment. Now each person has their clothing based on what they have access to. Ashley was partial to wearing her great-grandmother's clothing that was made of good quality and had lasted generations of wear. She and her ancestor were the same sizes and the clothes fit her perfectly. Today she was wearing jeans, they fit tightly and sat low on her hips like a second skin. She had paired them with a soft velvet sweater that zipped up in the front and said the word “Juicy” on the lower backside, just above where the small of her back peaked out.

Ashley loved her life at the school. It was a prestigious place, a great honour to attend and have the opportunity to learn, and an even greater privilege to be asked to stay and teach. Every person is required to earn their stay in the underground refuge and not all positions were created equal.

She nervously swiped at her bangs, pushing them to the side and then readjusting back to the middle of her forehead. Her wavy black hair was turning frizzy from the sweat forming uncomfortably all over her body. She felt like she was radiating heat, her whole body warming up from his stare. She blushed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity he spoke. “You’ve been here the longest of all of them. I bet you expected to have my position”.

She shifted and glanced away. He was right, she was so close she almost felt the rough leather of the books hidden amongst those shelves. But that was a privilege which came with the position and living in this room.

“I’d hoped but they always make the best decision for all. For them, that was you.” She tried to sound sincere, for she did believe them to know best, but the jealousy that she felt was overwhelming.

“People like you. Your student evaluations show them believe you are creative and inspiring. I hear nothing but about how positively agreeable you are.”

He paused and she waited and wondered if this was a compliment or a warning.

“Could you help me?” He grunted as he loosened his tie losing his entire intimidating persona with the one action. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I didn’t even go to school here. I don’t know the history or the job. Last week I was managing the largest grow op for the refuge South of the stronghold and today I’ve been moved and I have no idea why”

He took a step towards her with his arms outreached in a motion of desperation. She responded by stepping back, startled by his change in demeanour. “You have to know, no one else knows, only you. That’s part of the position. You know, you watch and you tell what we need to teach. You are the one who knows what the next generation must know for us to survive”

He rolled his eyes “exactly! So you see that I don’t belong here because I don’t know. I don’t know what needs to be taught”

“Then why are you here?” She asked. They wouldn’t make a mistake, you’re supposed to be here. She sighed, finally relaxing and leaned back in the small bed which was the only other seating option aside from his desk chair.

“I’m so relieved… I was afraid you would change this place” she said it quietly as she touched the rock wall, looking up at the tower of shelves leading to the window.

“So you’ll help me?” he asked.

“On one condition” a small smile forming on her lips “let me lay under the light from the window.”

Startled he looked up “the window? There’s nothing out there but death. Why would you want to have a window into the past?”

“The past gives us warnings for the future. The window is needed, someone must monitor the outside world, what if something changes?” She stated with such ferocity.

“What would change?” He asked baffled. “There’s nothing for us out there.”

Exasperated she swore under her breath “Just give me access to your room, the window and the shelves. Stay out of my way and I’ll fix this.”

He was shocked to hear such language from an academic. He cocked his head sideways and took in this woman, his only hope. She was reclined in a somewhat provocative nature on his bed leaning against the stone wall. She kept brushing her wild hair out of her eyes and with the newfound sight he saw her eyes dart to different objects on the shelf. She understood this place, she was comfortable here, and she wanted access to the room. His room. The only thing he was told when he was placed here was to watch. He could watch her.

He walked across the room and settled onto the bed next to her. She gasped and put distance between them. He turned to face her and made his decision. “You can lay in the light, what’s mine is yours.”

She jolted up from the bed and began carefully taking items and books from the shelves and then, in the light of the small coloured window, she began investigating her finds. She was attractive laying on the floor, in the centre of the room, illuminated by the light. There was something seductive about the way her shadow extended her fit body. She wiggled to get into a more comfortable position, delicately flipping through a book, her sweater lifting to reveal the skin on her back.

He sat there on the bed watching. She didn’t speak to him. She was absorbed with the new knowledge and access he’d granted her. At one point she pulled an elastic from her jeans pocket and tamed the dark curls into a ponytail and then continued reading. As she read she would smile and purse her cherry lips pensively. A few hours later, she shifted. He had started to doze off and the motion of kicking off her shoes roused him and he returned to watching.

He wasn’t sure how long it has been but as she continued to absorb the light his stomach began to growl. She must be hungry. He moved to the intercom system and pushed the button. “Can we get some food brought up for Miss Ashley and me while we work please”? He paused to appreciate the ease of the request. It had never been so easy for him to access food before. He’d never lived this comfortably. This room was large compared to his quarters at the growth centre. He was an engineer, and he had a small room with a cot and a shared washroom. The room was always wet, damp and sultry from the plants he cared for. He was on call at all times of the day and night. His team was responsible to maintain the extensive structure that provided all with oxygen, food and even clean water from the closed hydroponic system. Meals were served at scheduled periods and if he was called out for a repair, he would have to wait until the next serving. He often would lie down to rest for the night too hungry to sleep. That’s when he would read. He started trading whatever he had for books from the other engineers and workers within the centre. He read whatever he could find Frankenstein, Twilight, Pride and Prejudice, and the Hardy Boys. He even had a copy of the Da Vinci Code. But his late-night interest was nothing compared to the books Ashley must have access to.

He went to a school to learn but it was when he was young and to learn a specific trade for his planned position in the refuge. It was nothing like this school. This was a place for the best of them. Why would they choose him to lead?

There was a knock on the door. Before he could respond Mrs. Everly came barrelling into the room with a tray of food that smelled amazing. She was the housekeeper for the school and had been for as long as anyone could remember. She was sharp and nothing went array under her constant supervision.

She made it two steps into the room before freezing. The sound of her sharp inhales of breath echoed in the oddly shaped room. “Ashley, what on earth are you doing!” She exclaimed with all the disapproving authority of a mother.

Ashley looked up at her sheepishly. Quickly adjusting her clothing and slipping her shoes back on. “ I was consulting with our new professor, and he asked for a second opinion on some of the literature.”

“Well, that doesn’t mean you need to do it in the middle of the night while half dressed. Go on with you. This is no state for a girl like you to be found.” She then stared hard at Ashley as she packed her things and exited the room leaving a wide space between herself, Miss Everly and me.

“She’s special that one. Brilliant and respected. She's not someone who should be used. She deserves better then to have a man of authority take advantage. Do you understand me?”

Shocked, he only nodded. She left as quickly as she came leaving him in an empty room with enough food to feed four of him.