Tina stood up and wiped her face off.
She'd been crying off and on since she got back to the apartment. The only reason she'd stayed with Gianna was because she had to have her help getting back.
They hadn't spoke on the way back.
Gianna would not even look at her, and if the way she walked was any indication, Tina was pretty sure her friend was going to punch her if she said another word.
Kolvin came over to her and grinned. "I have news."
She nodded. "I do too."
He stared at her, his eyes wide. "What is wrong?"
"I can go back home. To Earth."
He blinked. "Yes. At the end of the thirty days. We still have nineteen more--"
"No. I can go back today. Now."
"But you are not," he said.
"Actually, I am. In about an hour I am leaving."
Kolvin nodded. "Why?"
"I have responsibilities back home. I must take care of my family. They need me."
He nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"
She shook her head. "My people will hurt you if you come. All in the name of science."
"I see." He reached into the pocked of his pants. "Then I am pleased that I purchased this for you."
"What is it?" It looked like a necklace with a large flat pendant.
He held up the pendant. "When you squeeze it, it displays the stars."
She stared. It was a map of the sector. A little red dot where Sol was.
He squeezed it again, and they changed.
"What is that?"
"The quadrant. You can see the stars all over this quadrant." He pulled his hand through it, and it made the maps bigger. Then he waved his hand again and made it smaller. "I thought, being someone who is a mapper, you would like this."
"It is beautiful," she said, and immediately put it around her neck.
"I'm sorry Kolvin. I have to go." She glanced at the communicator she'd gotten from Re-lee. It was blinking. Re-lee would be coming soon to get her and take her back to the portal, so she could go home.
"I acknowledge your choice." He got up and started to walk out.
"But wait, what was your news?"
"I met some Rhimodians. They were going to take us back to Sol."
"Oh." He needed that. He could be returned to his people and get back to his life before. That's what he should have.
She knew that. And she could go home and get back to her life.
