-Worlds Apart- Ruination by Amanda Thome Page A

socks. I make my way through the sea to find Emma’s educator.
    “Nessa Hollins. Emma’s sister,” I say with a hint of unease.
    Educators have always made me marginally uncomfortable and I’m certain she hears it in my voice. She looks slightly annoyed by my presence and probably offended by my unkempt dress and hair that’s mixed with mud and leaves from my run to the hill.
    Educators are always immaculately groomed with white clothes pressed and unpolluted, they’re Centrals. They know what lies beyond the wall. At days end they take the hovercraft across the barrier and return to a life I can’t imagine.
    “Yes, Miss Hollins?” Her dark perfectly shaped brows sit over her fair green eyes. Her black, shoulder length hair falls to the side as she asks her question.
    “Emma’s unwell today, ma’am. I’ve come to collect her assignments.”
    I try rushing through our awkward interaction and wait while she collects and organizes a stack of lessons. Tucking them into my bag I dash from the education building, relieved to be free from the white walls and judging eyes.
    Darting through the streets back to Emma, I can’t help but recall my first day of education so many years ago, when I walked home in my grey uniform. It only takes thirty minutes to run the route now. Once I round the corner to our sub my mind switches to Emma. I sprint twice as fast up our walkway and reach the door, swinging it open.
    “Nessa?” Her voice is weak.
    “Hey, little miss. How are you?” I stare at her, curled into a tense ball.
    I try comforting her. I crawl in bed arranging the grey sheets over our heads. She rolls to me half smiling. I sing to her while her eyes flutter open and closed in a battle to fight exhaustion.
    “Sleep Emma. I’ll wake you soon,” I say between songs.
    She lets sleep conquer her. I hold the covers above us and partly sing, partly hum as images of my mother and Garrett flash through my mind. I picture Mama holding me, her soft voice a hum. Mama fades into the background and I imagine Garrett with me, surrounding me in his arms. I let my attention and voice wander for the better part of the morning before I find the heart to wake her.
    “Emma, it’s time to wake up.” I comb my fingers through her hair, coaxing her awake. She yawns, stretching her limbs in all directions. She stares at me through refreshed green and gold eyes. “Let’s see what we’re learning today,” I usher her out of our room to the open table. I pull out the stack of papers. Her eyes fly wildly open and alert.
    “All of those?”
    “Yes, it’s not bad really. We have to learn moon cycles first.”
    “Why?” She asks with a hint of whine to her voice. It makes me want to laugh.
    “Because it’s what the educator gave me. Plus, moon cycles are important to know for farming.” She gives me an absent look. “For instance, harvest moons are in September and October, the moon is so full and bright that it casts light into the darkness letting the farmers reap until late in the night. Or May is the planting moon. Everyone should know when to plant and when to harvest, even if you don’t become a farmer.” I poke my bony finger at her stomach, making her giggle. We spend the better part of the morning learning the different moon phases and cycles.
    “Full, waxing gibbous, first quarter…” On and on she repeats, proving she has them memorized.
    “Ok show off. Let’s move on.” I smile at her across the table. I pull out her skills lesson, “It says you’re supposed to work on trapping today.” She curls her top lip in a sort of snarl. Skills instruction’s never been her favorite but it’s mandatory. “You’re learning the twitch-up snare today.” She cocks her head, giving a disgusted look. “I hope you’re feeling better because we have to go outside to do this.”
    I fold her in my arms, hugging her before we dress in our warm blues. We march towards the woods bordering our home. Emma snaps nearly every