Madison’s World

Madison stretched herself out across the couch before setting her mother down near her hip.  Even now, being placed there like that brought with it a fresh jolt of unreality.…

“No, Madison, you’re misunderstanding,” Greg said, trying to keep his voice calm. It still felt deeply unnatural, having to explain himself like this to his own daughter.  Madison rolled her…

Greg and Cindy had finally finished McKenzie’s homework. It had been harder than Madison’s usual assignments, longer reading, more careful responses, more places where a careless answer might stand out.…

Madison sat cross-legged atop her oversized bed, the soft comforter bunched beneath her legs as she leaned back against a mound of pillows. A makeup tutorial played on her tablet, some girl…

Greg’s eyes moved across the words on McKenzie’s homework, but very little of it stayed with him. Again and again, his thoughts drifted back to McKenzie herself, her determination, her discipline, the widening shape…

Greg lay stretched across the small sofa in the habitat, one forearm draped over his eyes, the little tablet resting face-down on his chest. He was not asleep, but he hovered near…