18
She was back in her room on the disaster ship, standing in front of her vanity mirror, doing her makeup.
The whole ordeal had drained her energy.
She didn’t know how she got through it.
She’d had to speak with the military and the news reporters about what happened. She couldn’t remember the details. The events had gone by in such a blur that she couldn’t recall what she had said. All she had cared about was getting back to volunteer duty.
She put mascara on her eyelashes and checked her work.
She had a bruise on her cheek.
Small price to pay.
Her phone rang.
Her mom.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Michiko, are you okay?” Reiko asked. Her voice was soft. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m better, Mom.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come home?” Reiko asked. “You’ve been through so much.”
“I hav
