I hailed a cab and made my back to my apartment. Yes. I didn’t change my address, despite the risk of Akatani finding out where I lived. Life is full of risks, but some risks are worth the wait. Especially when a low-level criminal thinks he’s your better.

I couldn’t lie, I was happy to have Shin-Lee by my side again, but the most I was happy with, was seeing Hannah run around the apartment, smiling from ear to ear.

To be honest, I’ve always been dead inside when we’ve been apart, dead, cold, miserable…all of the above was me, but just having them by myself…was everything to me and I’d kill to protect it!

The trouble with them moving back in with me was acquiring another apartment. Akatani had hacked our frequency, which means he could probably get my information.

It’s stuff like this I had to ensure, Shin-Lee didn’t take my last name, but Hannah did, it was risky but Shin-Lee forced the issue and I relented, begrudgingly.

Acquiring an apartment five floors from mine, was easy. Hell, I even paid a security guard four hundred creds whenever I arrived, ensuring the cameras on my floor, the staircase and the floor Shin-Lee and Hanna were on were turned off for at least 15 minutes.

Perfect set upright.

I punched in the door code, hoping to slide in quietly. The sheen from the black tiles, reflected into my eyesight, not to make me squint, but enough for me to notice. I hadn’t gotten used to it as yet. The floors here were different from my own.

Upon walking through the door, for a mere second, something wrapped itself around my leg like a snake tightening its grip. So much for stealth, I mused happily.

“DADDY YOU’RE HOME!” Hanna-Lee cheered, making me smile instantly. I love this little girl I said to myself, scooping her up into my arms and hugging her tightly. “Miss me?”

“Yesss!!” She continuously cheered, snuggling her face into my chest, tickling me. I tried resting her down, but she latched her arms around my neck, forcing me to stop. Easily…the tightest grip you’d ever get in life, a hug from a little girl who’d hardly seen you for the past eight months.

I held Hannah-Lee in my arms for a full minute, before she finally loosened her grip. As she did so, I wiped a tear from my eye, hoping she wouldn’t see, which only made her kiss me on the cheek.

“Cry, baby!” Hannah said, giggling.

“Not fair, you know how strong you are!” I told her, sticking my tongue out to tease her.

I placed my little girl on the ground, and took in her features, as beautiful as they were. Hannah’s brown kinky hair swayed like the waves that emanated from it. Her olive skin was smooth as expected for a five-year-old. Her light mocha coloured eyes gave the visage of innocence I hoped she never lost. Her nose bridge was vulpine-like and her cheeks puffy, a large contrast to the sullen looks they once had two years ago. My little girl was pretty, and I loved every inch of her.

“Stop teasing her,” Shin-Lee said, drawing my eyes to her. She stood in the middle of the arch, which led to our bedroom and Hannah’s own, hands-on her Kimber, eyeing me with her head tilted to the side as if she said ‘oh really.’ “You’re back earlier than I expected” She continued.

“Disappointed?” I asked, placing the plastic bag with the fried wings and chips on the countertop.

“Hardly…”

Hanna-Lee stuck out her tongue and run back to the dining room table, climbed into the chair and began playing some game I’d never seen before.

The kitchen area within the apartment was completely black, just the way Shin-Lee liked. The quartz countertop with white traces, matching the tiles on the ground. The cupboards above had no handles, keeping a linear design, whilst the fridge sat between two walls, partitioning itself away from everything else.

It wasn’t a stellar design but today’s ‘standards’ but with the advancement in technology, that allowed you to design your own home, it sure as hell made her happy.

One would think, that because the kitchen was black that she wore it as well. Wrong. Shin-Lee loved white and mostly wore it. Hell, she wore white when I met her, all the way back in the Latrina Empire, all those years ago.

I didn’t understand why she wore, them, but after getting to know her for years. I fully understood why. Her skin was milky white, and as she wore white as well…it made her more visible for some reason. Not like I’d ever complained.

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As Shin-Lee stood in the middle of the archway, her white dress flowing perfectly to right above her knees. I couldn’t help but stare, noticing the floral embroidery as my eyes made their way up. “My face is here Mr Cypher,” Shin-Lee said, snapping me out of my bliss.

“It is,” I answered with a dry laugh. Shin-Lee’s were larger than most women, which made them different, especially with the feline-like eyebrows she had. The thin lips, below the sharp nose she had made her seem astute when she wasn’t. The first time I met her, I swore she was a prude, something she proved to be far removed from.

“Hungry?” She asked, pushing past me, letting the floral scent of her hair waft into my nose. “I’m good I ate earlier with Rex.”

“…ahh, so that’s why I can smell the scent of people and gizzards on you.”

“Yeah…” I said with a smile. I turned left, trying to ease on over to Hannah, who was sitting at the Holotable, playing some game with monsters eating buildings. “Hold up!” Shin-Lee said, stopping me in my tracks. “Shower first…Hanna just took hers.”

“Right…”

I turned around, passing Shin-Lee as she began taking the fries and wings from the boxes, placing the plates. I let my right arm drift up to her back, and watched as she stiffened and snapped a glare at me. I blew a kiss, turned the corner and headed into the shower. It’s gonna be a long night I said to myself, as I climbed the stairs. It’s gonna be a long night.

My shower was pleasantly warm, despite the fifteen minutes of settings adjustment I went through to get it to the right temperature. For whatever reason, Hanna and Shin-Lee loved the water scorching hot…which for me felt as if I were bathing in lava.

After I finished with the shower, I dried off, flossed and brushed my teeth and slipped into brown pants with a black vest for a top.

I came outside, finding Shin-Lee placing a plate full of fries and wings next to Hannah, who was still playing her eating monster game. She was the one controlling the monster, based on how fast she tapped the Holotable, matching the chomping sound effect of the game that sounded off within the room.

Shin-Lee fed Hannah, whilst she ate, and I made myself into the living room, letting my hand caress the back of Shin-Lee’s neck. “You should stop,” Shin-Lee said, eyeing me with a forkful of fries, hovering around Hannah’s mouth.

“Aye aye, Captain,” I answered, feeling defeated.

The serene aura of the living was amplified by the lack of luminescence within the room. The coffee table sat in the dead centre of the room, whilst the assorted chairs and couches surrounded it, making it feel more grandiose than it was.

The 62” Television that sat on the wall, perfectly tilting down to me, made me feel small, but I didn’t mind. My family was here with me and that’s all that mattered. There was no better feeling than having My wife and daughter around.

The void that stirred within me whilst they were away, was finally filled with their love in a matter of weeks, making me love every second I spent with them.

This is how it is supposed to be I thought cheerfully. Always.

My stomach sank in as Hanna plunked herself on top of me, unannounced, her signature as of lately. I bit my bottom lip, trying my best to hide the pain. She wasn’t four anymore, making her increase in weight substantial…thankfully.

“SURPRISE!” She shouted, nestling her head into my chest again. “You’re trying hard to scare me…arent you?”

“Noooo!” Hanna said, muffled by my shirt. I pushed myself up, ensuring to keep her head rested on my chest. She rocked back, skinning her teeth, showing me she was now missing a canine. When did THAT happen?

“What happened there?” I asked, confused. “Nothing much, It fell out when I was playing daddy,” Hanna answered. Fell out? Playing? “LEE…WHAT HAPPENED TO HANNA’S TOOTH?” I shouted across the room. “Like what…” Shin-Lee replied, over the hissing pan. “It fell out, there’s no great mystery to that!”

“She’s five…there’s no way her baby teeth should be falling out so soon!”I said, feeling flustered. I heard Shin-Lee’s sigh from across the room, despite her washing the dishes. “It’s from the Anti-Mienyelfribosis shot.” She answered. “This new dosage forces adult teeth out by a year.”

“What?! A-Fucking-Year?”

Shin-Lee slapped me across my hand, and I felt the sting of it crawl up my arm. “Language.” She said, venom in her eyes then walked back to the kitchen. When did she get there? I thought.

I looked at Hannah, who didn’t say anything, but I know my little girl, she learned a new word, and would probably use it soon. Fuck…I messed up, I thought bitterly. “WHY? “ I finally asked. “I don’t remember the doctor saying anything about her teeth dropping out before it’s the time!”

“It’s a side effect from the nanites Kaiden.”

“Side effect, what are you talking about?”

“It’s one of those rare side effects from the Anti-Mienyelfribosis shot. Hanna just happens to fall in that 1% category.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You’d be against the shot.”

“DAMN RIGHT I WOULD BE” I shouted, feeling betrayed.

“Well…it’s done. Nothing can be done.”

“What do you mean nothing can be done, Hannah’s teeth are falling out a year early for christ's sake, wouldn’t this affect her adult teeth as well?”

The running water chimed off, and I heard Shin-Lee’s thundering steps flowing toward Hannah and me. She stood above us, eyes piercing my soul, not angrily, but annoyed.

“Listen…Mr. Cypher. You take what you have for granted in this City. You know what it was like for me growing up with standard health care within Latrina. HANNAH has the luxury of health care that I couldn’t have. I won’t sit there and allow her slowly die when I can do something about it. Yes. I get it. You don’t trust the process, but might I remind you. You’re because of it, Mr Cyborg.”

She went silent waiting for my response, and as soon as I was about to open my mouth, she turned, hair flowing violently as she stomped away. “We’ll discuss this later.” She added.

My eyes drifted towards Hannah, whose eyes were as glossy as a puppy dog's own. “You angered mummy again Daddy,” Hannah said, making my stomach sink even further. “Seems to be a running theme of my life recently Hannah,” I answered. Hannah tilted her head, confused. “What’s a running theme?”

“My life baby girl…my life.”