the recorded data
I remember the rain-damped smell of lilac flowers. The orange-yellow cast nimbus clouds quietly hovered above, covering the deep blue ocean sky. “It won’t be long...” she said, but I wasn’t really paying attention. My gaze was focused on the distant horizon where two deep blue hues melted together. The high-tide waves crashed into the rocks beneath the concrete sea wall, my legs limply hanging off the side just out of reach of the splashing water. The tips of my fingers rubbed against the rough concrete, kicking up tiny bits of coarse sand, before I noticed suddenly that the sun had just peeked over the horizon like a wedge splitting the blue into two distinct halves. The wind gusted over me as I heard thunder rumble again in the distance. Standing up to dust my pants off, I looked to my partner. She was wearing an unbuttoned flannel coat and brushed aside her bangs as the wind blew by.
“It’s time?” I asked, flatly. She nodded silently. “Lets go back, then.” I hopped down the over-sized stairs leading down the seawall to collect the equipment wedged between the rocks. Here, the petrichor was practically indistinguishable from the bracing sea air. Careful to not slip, I checked the instruments briefly, retracting the probes and the stabilizing legs before snapping the case shut and ascending back up the stairs where I found my partner already sitting in the driver’s seat with the engine running. I seated myself in the back with the case on the floor next to me before shutting the door, suddenly isolating us from the waves and the wind. The vehicle was silent except for the muted sounds of weather and as we exited the parking lot onto the coastal road, the rain started to drizzle again.
“Do you want to get breakfast?” She asked, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know, I don’t really…” I crossed my legs, rubbing my feet together uneasily. I opened my mouth to say more, but didn’t know what to say. She simply nodded, understanding.
“Lets just get something light.” She smiled. “See you how feel after that, yeah?”
The car’s blinkers clicked on and before long we were inside a pleasantly warm, quiet cafe. It was a weekend morning, I suppose. My partner seated herself as I went to the counter to order. I got her the usual – a croissant and some tea. It was more difficult to decide what I wanted, so I just pointed vaguely at the display.
“One of those please.”
I sat down across from my partner, who looked at me with curiosity.
“A scone?”
“Yeah, I, I don’t know.” I shook my head. “Something light, right?”
She nodded. “What flavor is it?”
“Do you think Linda will be satisfied with the data we collected?” I asked, taking a bite into the pastry.
“Oh,” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
“I hope she doesn’t find anything concerning… It’s cranberry.”
“I just hope she pays us today.” She replied.
I nod, my mouth currently occupied by an absence of empty space.
“The toxin levels have been increasing steadily, but there hasn’t been a reduction in microplastic concentrations in a long time.” She continued. “Most sea life is dead at this point, but soon the water will be toxic enough that it’s going to really become a problem. A serious problem.”
Her face scrunches up, the same way she always does when considering a bleak future or even just a minor inconvenience, before scrutinizing my face. “Did you even enjoy that?”
“Well, yeah, I mean--”
“You just scarfed it down so fast.”
“It was tasty.” I shrug nonchalantly.
She scoffs. “Whatever. Look –” She turns her face to watch the rain splatter against the windows. “Don’t you worry sometimes about how it’s all going to turn out?”
“Sometimes. I mean, not really. I mostly think about right now.” I wipe my mouth.
“What, like the scone?”
“I mean, when I was eating it sure.” I pick up her tea and take a sip. “Do you really like this stuff? It tastes… leafy.”
“It’s green tea.” She turns back to face me and takes the cup back from out of my hands. “And I like it.”