Only in April

The Minister wasn’t a nice man.

April had realized this not long after accepting the internship. There was lots of yelling at co-workers and manipulating involved in politics. And yes, maybe she had known this before entering into this world - even in her classes at school had she noticed the subtle nuances involved in the political sphere. She was often disregarded for her mostly informal education and having grown up a part of the 99%. Meaning deep in poverty, or as the kids at school would say, “below the line”. But she had proven herself through diligence and tenaciousness. Still, she wasn’t sure the Minister particularly admired or cared about either of those qualities. What the Minister mostly appreciated was blind obedience. She expected she had been mostly a diversity hire.

Still, she was here. At possibly one of the most elegant homes she had ever seen. The curtains were lavish, and the banisters were gold. Probably not real, pure gold, but April couldn’t be sure.

Every single person in the room was decked out head to toe in luxurious and dignified attire. Almost all of them had at least one technological device on their person, or at least had their personal assistant carrying one for them. April rarely saw these things in her lifetime, growing up as she had made sure of that.

After the war, when the internet crashed and all technology stopped working, it had been hard for most people to find work. The entire system that the old world had been built on was destroyed in one night. Only the special few, the most elite of the elite, had any access to what had used to be one of the most important aspects of life. When people had started getting sick, or injuries from war had made soldiers weary, doctors hadn’t known what to do. This was how the one percent had made their money. Selling the minimal amount of electricity to desperate people who needed brain scans or heart operations. But there weren’t very many doctors who even knew how to operate those kinds of advancements anymore. There was no one left alive who remembered a time before the war.

Education was harder now too, but April had managed. And now here she was, in a home where the lights all turned on with a switch and the water ran without pumps.

The Minister had decided to take April along because she had showed what he called ‘outstanding potential’, but now that she was here, she expected that he mostly brought her to be stared at like an animal in a zoo.

Currently, the Minister was parading around the room and charming rich socialites with a winning smile and a pleasant disposition. This was not the Minister April had become accustomed to.

“Mariella, dazzling as always. I have to say you have outdone yourself with this party.” The Minister gripped the hand of an unyielding woman and shook it twice.

Mariella Green was the CEO and Chairman of Public Roads. The name was deceptive, as Mariella held a monopoly on all transport, mechanical and electric, around the country, and she made sure that it was not available to the public. At least, not at any cost the general public would be able to afford.

She was what April could only describe as hard. All of her features were sharp and concrete, her shoulders were broad, and the calves that peeked through the slit of her sleek, red dress were muscled and firm. The only thing that cut into the impression was the golden heart-shaped locket that hung daintily around her neck.

“Minister, I’m glad you could make it. Charming as always.” The Minister’s smile was strained under the fierce, calculating eyes of this Amazonian queen.

“Ah, only for you, my dear.” April watched as Mariella’s lips tightened at the pet-name. “Have you met my intern, April?”

The woman’s eyes turned on April and she was struck by the power of her gaze. April felt smaller than before.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Mariella Green.” April scrambled to take the woman’s hand.

“April Perez, pleased to meet you.”

“Perez, I haven’t heard that name before. Who are you associated with?” April had heard this question all night, and every time she had to awkwardly explain that she wasn’t associated with anybody, and she would watch the realization dawn upon the snobbish aristocrats. She was tired of seeing pity and disgust.

“No one. I grew up below the line.” Mariella’s face twisted before she schooled it into a perfectly unreadable expression.

“How very common of you.”

Coming from Mariella, the barb stung like hot iron. April was used to these classist comments. She was acutely aware of her status in society, and she wasn’t ashamed of it. At least, she hadn’t been until Mariella had said ‘common’ in that condescending tone. Now, April felt the hot rush of shame colour her cheeks and the tips of her ears. Despite the embarrassment, she could also feel the icy glacier of anger growing inside her. How dare these people look down on the hardworking folk April had grown up with? What did they know of hardship? What did they know of labour? She was certain none of them had felt true hunger, or the fear of the cold in winter.

“Yes, well, I hope that my upbringing will help connect me to common people and common issues as I further my career, Ms. Green.” April watched as Mariella’s mind moved at unimaginable speeds, considering all the connotations to April’s suggestion.

“Wouldn’t that be something.” With the quirk of a perfectly groomed eyebrow, Mariella turned back to the Minister.

April only hung around as long as was necessary to not appear rude before promptly excusing herself to the bathroom.

She was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Her head buzzed and she felt the keen desire to hit something. Alas, she couldn’t do that here, so instead she swallowed the lump in her throat and splashed her face with cool water from the tap. She could hear the bustling of the party; it sounded just like manipulation and greed. April wasn’t sure how much more she could stand. She just needed a few more minutes alone.

And then there were people entering the bathroom. Somehow, April found herself hiding away in a locked stall. Just a few more moments, she told herself.

“Professor Lockhart needs to keep her fucking mouth shut. If she does what she’s saying she’ll do-” The voice belonged to a woman, sounding panicked. Heels clacked on the linoleum floor.

The voices were hushed and strained. April couldn’t tell who was speaking from the voices alone, and she wouldn’t dare peek over the stall.

“She’s not going to say anything. Mariella has the locket, and as long as she does, the Professor can’t prove anything. Besides, you know Mariella likes to keep a tight leash on her pets. The Minister is only this polite in her company.” It was a man’s voice, deep and provocative.

“Well, I fucking hope so. It could all be over if she-”

“I told you, she won’t. And you trust me, don’t you?” There was something in this man’s voice that told April he could not be trusted. The woman hesitated before answering.

“Implicitly.” Her voice was stable, although April could hear the tinge of a lie in her tone. April was very good at detecting liars.

“Good. Now go out there and convince the chairman to give us the funding. Because if you want to keep your precious electricity, we need to make sure that it is as inaccessible as possible.” April listened to the clacking of retreating heels. Only one person had left.

The tap turned on and April listened to the splashing of water.

“Fuck!” There was the sound of breaking glass.

“It’s fucking over.” The desperate whisper was almost imperceptible from the bathroom stall. And then the tap turned off, and April could hear the footsteps as they left the bathroom and returned to the party.