Davenport looked over at her family.
"Something wrong?" Anthony asked.
"I only have two minutes left," Davenport said.
"Wait! You can't leave!" Andrea said.
"I have to. I have responsiblities."
"What about us?" Anthony said.
"I wish I could stay, honey, but I can't."
Andrea paused. "I understand. I love you."
"I love you, too." Davenport began crying. "Happy birthday."
"This is the best birthday present ever," Andrea said. "When are you going to be home?"
"Three years."
"Promise?"
"I can't. But you look forward to it, ok?"
"I will."
"I wish I could hug you."
"Same here."
"I love you, Theresa."
"I love you, Anthony."
They didn't say a word until Davenport disappeared. And then you could hear Andrea saying, between sobs:
"Please don't die."
Anthony whispered,"She won't, sweetie. She's a fighter. She'll make it back.
"So how was your visit?"
"Are you kidding? It was great!"
"Good for you!"
"Did you ever visit Cat?"
"Yes," Suzee admitted. "More than once."
"How many times?"
"Sixteen."
"Wow," Davenport said. "And nobody knows?"
"Well, you do now!"
Davenport smiled. She was glad she was getting along with Suzee now.
Dear Andrea,
Hi, sweetie! How are you? Did you know I miss you? I wish I could see you sometime. I'm secretly trying to find a way to knock a year or two off of our trip, but it just isn't working. I'm sorry I missed your birthday again this year. I really wish I could go home, even if it was just for a day. I want to see your beautiful little face in person. I want to see your blond hair and brown eyes. I want to see you. I wish I could hug you, but I just can't right now. I just can't. I think of you every day. I know you think I'm no longer alive, but I am. We're doing pretty good now. We started off shaky, but we're fine now. You should see Commander Goddard! Today, he smiled at me. I don't know whether it was because he liked me or if it was because I had spilled juice down my shirt. Oh, well. It's all right. I don't want you to cry over me. I really don't. Save your tears for later, when we return home and we can hug each other again. I love you.
Love, Mom
P.S. I think I'm about to kill Suzee....
Davenport put the letter into a bottle. She then put the bottle in the airlock. She opened the airlock door, and the letter fell into space. By the time tthe door was sealed shut, she was crying. She got the picture of her husband, who had died in a war ten years earlier, and their newborn baby, Andrea. She held it to her heart and cried. Then she headed back to her bunkroom to dream about her family.
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