The boxes of Paris in future, a short story of sci-fi

Francine was close to a total breakdown when I found out what the issue was. A woman had entered her life and for some reason decided to mess with Franky, to the point where her self-esteem was crumbling. She had a beautiful house, Max, her husband, supported her always and forever but, still, all it took was one messed up soul that just wanted to take away happiness from others. I was in Francine's life, and in Maxes, they were close to me, they had always been.

Their kids had grown up and we just lived in their big house, together. It was odd, though. The last week. At first, the decline was non-visible but each day it got worse until, now, when Franky did not get out of her bed anymore.

I was standing in my workroom, a huge hall, and moving the plans of Paris around. The Eifel tower had long been removed, in its place, a cubical skyscraper touched the clouds. I was the architect, the creator of today. But ''today'' was boring and the style monotone. Cubes, everywhere cubes. That was deemed the most efficient way and so the houses were gradually replaced through decades. Now you could be in a hundred different cities and never be the wiser, they all looked the same.

It was fun to an extent as the technology advanced. I was standing in my room and building in real time, thousands of kilometers away. The hologram here was the reality there. I used what I had and I moved it through the little map. The people were used to it, flying boxes. And it is not like it was bad, each box come with a garden on top and was suitable for every need a person had. But the world was just a checkered piece now.

I could not keep my head in the work so I clapped and the lights went out. It was night-time in Paris and my workroom lit up with a thousand stars. I smiled. Even if it was for sadness. The bluely lit boxes with platinium sides floated around, behind a ramp. If only the reality out there was as it was here. A dash of color, happy people without tainted souls. Franky was probably upstairs. Max with her, trying to be the peaceful guardian that he always was.

He didn't like solving problems he had with retaliation, but sometimes, even though I am not prone to violence, I saw what needed to be done. I just did not know how to go about it and tell Max. I sat down, on the polished tile floor, which changed its texture immediately, into a soft carpet. I liked to lay down and just look at the ceiling that seemed to not even be there. It was the universe, the stars, the Moon. That was why my workroom was the favorite place in the whole house for me.

The boxes touched the ground with me. They belonged to me and Paris. My city, my playground that looked nothing like the old Paris I had seen in my great grandparent's pictures. There was a knock on my door. At first, it was soft but when I did not answer, it turned into a more determined one. I looked at the portal and squinted my eyes, the door became transparent on my side and I saw Max standing in the living room. My heart beat faster.

-- Come in!- I did not move, he had seen me worse. He opened the door and his eyes immediately met mine. He knew I was hurting as well, Franky was the kindest soul. She was a part of me.

-- Hey...- his voice was a mere whisper as he lay down next to me. His hand slipped under my head and he turned his body to me, in a half hugging manner.

-- Max, we need to do something with that vile woman, she needs to pay for messing with Franky. And all of it just for a promotion. All those memories she brought up... I hate her.- I wasn't one to say such strong words but Francine was my family.

-- We will do something. Our lawyers are already working on it. If you hadn't put a spy detail on her we wouldn't even know. You already did something. You stopped her and now she can not get away from it. Relax, my dear love, it is going to be okay. Franky is better already, she just needs some sleep and a couple weeks off. We can go to Bora Bora for a while if you both would like. There are no boxes there... Paris will wait, it always does.- his soft palm caressed my cheek and I felt better instantly. That was his talent, that was like he was the perfect match for me and Franky. He cared, deeply.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax, the room around me started playing a subtle melody. I had my doubts and my anger, and I was by no means escaping to a tropical island. Not until the other woman paid for what she did. But I could enjoy the moment. Maxes lips touched mine and I gave in. The sparks and the electricity, it had always been strong between us. He knew me, she knew me. It was wonderful, how I could melt away. Just for a while, my brain would flow free in space and give in to my bodies desires.

All the colors of the spectrum, saturated. Exploding.

I slept on the floor that night, in Maxes arms, my cubes floating around, the gravity being disobeyed. It was peaceful and serene, even with my dark thoughts looming in the background. And, when the morning came and my lover left, out of the door, I got up, for the first time in hours and went to the window. The Earth was visible from my workroom. A planet floating in space, thousands of kilometers away. How far we have come, humans, powerful and advanced. If I left through the door, though, I would be on my home planet. All I needed was a portal and it was there.

Still, human nature often stayed the same. Evil, vile and tainted. There were much fewer people like that left into powerful positions but I still knew a couple. One day... Maybe, when I finish Paris. I laughed. If only one could ever finish a city.

---

This was a very futuristic dream I had. A lot of lights and floating things. A serene feeling. I loved building. There were boxes on boxes and always with one space free between them where green stuff was. The rest was wite.

Have an amazing day, today, tomorrow and forever,
Linda