April

Staring into the endless abyss, feet dangling over the edge of a vast crater, the two of them had finally made it to the moon. A storm of stars shot past them, flickering and dancing, before disappearing into the galaxy beyond.

Arthur finally broke the natural silence. “Did I make the team proud?”

Doris, faintly smiling from her exo-suit and into the distance, replied, “You did, Arthur, you really did.”

Doris wore her very best clothes under her exo-suit. It wouldn’t make sense to some, but to her, this always felt right. She remembered all the times Copper, her flight commander, screamed at her for doing things differently. She missed him. The inevitable slow pulse on her wrist indicated that not much time was left. She had feigned ignorance until the very last second.

It was time to say goodbye.

“Hear that, Doris?” Arthur said softly. “The stars are calling me…”

“I hear it,” she replied, tears rolling down her face, “I hear it.”

“You know,” Arthur said, looking at the stars, “I don’t want this to end. I’m scared. I don’t know what’ll happen.”

Doris took Arthur’s hand and held it as tight as the exo-suit would allow. The once slow pulse began to get quicker.

Time was up.

“No matter what,” Doris said, “I will find you. Even among the stars and distant galaxies and beyond. I will find you. We will be together again.”

“Thank you,” Arthur replied, “For making April one of my happiest memories.”

Doris felt the hand she once held lose the weight and life it once had. She sat there for a spell, watching the stars shoot across the sky.

Just like they always used to do in April.