“But your boss doesn’t want you to come back?”
“It does not matter. I am going.”
She nodded and glanced around the apartment. While this place was pretty cool, she understood where he was coming from.
If they need help, he needed to go.
And surely, she’d be able to do something too. If nothing else, she has experience feeding people.
She glanced at the card that Re-lee had given her. “Well, I guess we need to go shopping then. Because I’m going to have to get some clothes and whatever else I’ll need in your mines.”
He blinked and stared at her. “As you like.”
7
They arrived back at the mining ship, and Jana stared out the window at it as they docked.
If she spoke the truth about never actually seeing any of this before, her wonderment touched his soul, how she seemed so excited and fascinated by everything.
He still wasn't sure why she agreed to come with him.
She had been so determined, though. They had left almost immediately and used the courtesy credits that Re-lee had provided so she could pick up whatever she needed.
“This thing is massive,” she said. “It’s not as big as the station we were just on, is it?”
“No, it’s just a singular ship.”
“It is still huge. I think you could fit my whole city in there.”
“That is what it is. A whole colony.”
“Wow.”
He watched her as the ship clanked against the Stonebroke to lock together. She jumped but smiled and glanced at him. Her excitement was obvious all over her face. Her eyes danced and sparkled in enthusiasm.
“Are you sure you are well with this situation?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not well. I’m still not sure this is real, to be honest.”
“What do you think this is, then?”
“I fell and hit my head and am unconscious in a hospital.”
“You are just going through the motions, then.” He wasn’t happy about how that felt inside. That she considered this all a played-out fantasy in her existence that would disappear when she woke.
What would happen when she woke? Or when she realized it wasn't a dream?
She shrugged. “If it’s not real, then I have to go through the motions to wake up.”
“And if it is real?”
“Well, then, I’m in another galaxy. I don’t have to worry about running into my ex here,” she said with a smile. Though the smile was only on her lips. Her eyes held sadness.
He knew that expression.
He’d made it enough times in his life, attempting to smooth things over and get through a moment.
"Previous partners do not exist here," he said. He gently brushed her hand.
