Chapter 4

Inside that room in the Med Bay, I could see a hint of paradise. I saw the woman I love, holding one of my daughters in her arms, while my older son held her twin.

                -Have you settled on a name yet? – I asked without looking away.

                -Nahya. – that’s how our daughter would be named, Nahya Neverender.

With a smile I nodded, I loved the name. After that, I turned, now facing Noah, who wasn’t aware that he would be the one in charge of naming our other daughter. Arana sat and prepared to give him the news.

                -Noah. – she said, with the sweetest voice there could be.

Noah turned slowly, trying not to make any sudden moves that could hurt his little sister. When he finally turned towards his mother she started talking.

                -Noah. Your dad and I talked about this yesterday. – she said while I approached the bed.

                -Do you remember that yesterday I told you I was the one who chose your name? – I asked while sitting on the edge of the bed.

Noah nodded, then turned to Arana again.

                -This time is mom’s turn, right? - 

                -I’ve already named Nahya. – she replied with a smile.

                -What your mother proposed was that you were that one who named your sister. – I said while touching Nahya’s hand with my finger.

Noah turned to his sister for a few seconds. After that he looked at me, he realized how similar his sister and I are, given that we both are full humans, opposites to his mother and Nahya.

                -Narumi. – he said with a solid voice.

Arana left a chuckle before I could even talk.

                -It´s a character from his book. – she said the moment she saw I opened my mouth.

                -I thought it was a book of cowboys. – I said a little lost.

                -They’re space cowboys. – Noah replied instantly.

While I was thinking Arana quickly made the decision.

                -Narumi Neverender. Sounds beautiful. -she said while smiling at our daughter.

I loved how that name sounded. Arana and Noah were so happy at that moment, it was impossible not to feel like I was living a perfect life.

-I think we can wait a couple of days before heading back to Mara. – I told Arana while looking for a nurse.

                -I think the two days of travel would be enough to be ready. – she replied, always the warrior.

After a little pause, she understood everything.

                -Don’t try to defer it any longer D. –

                -I’m not deferring it, I’m just concerned about whether or not you and the girls are in condition for a trip like that. –

                -Maybe that excuse would’ve worked back on Earth love, but you know that’s not how things work here. -

I left a sigh. Going back to Earth is something I really didn’t want to do.

When I got out of my mind I could see Noah confused about what Arana and I were speaking of. His first question was, without a doubt, the same question I’ve would have asked in his place.

                -What is deferring? – he asked while I approached Narumi.

When I held Narumi in my arms to takeover a tired Noah I started to think about how I would break the news.

                -Deferring is when you must do something, but you avoid doing it because you don’t want to do it. – I replied while holding Narumi.

                -And what are you deferring? – I naively asked.

Arana and I turned to each other at that moment. She shrugged, making it clear that whatever answer I gave to Noah she would back it up. Sometimes the faith she has in me seems inhuman. In my heart, I always feel that look she has. “I trust the man I married. I trust that he’ll make the best choices for the right reasons.” That’s the quote she told me the day Noah was born. Since then I lev so that I can show her she was right.

-Your mom and I talk a little yesterday, about how your sisters should visit Earth to meet your aunt and your grandpas. – I told Noah while avoiding looking him in the eyes.

                -Are we going to meet our grandpas? – he asked full of excitement.

For a moment I didn’t understand, given that, to me, it was way less time than what I’ve would have wanted, but it was true, Noah had spent his entire life away from Earth.

                -I’m sure that my parents would love to see you son. Maybe I could borrow some discs from my mom for you. I wouldn’t want just one Earthly song to stick with you. –

Noah smiled with a lot of energy. After a while he started to get a bit impatient, given that the promise of an unknown planet to him was going to be explored made him uneasy and excited. He definitely takes that from me. I decided to give him some credits to buy something to eat from the vending machine. It’s incredible how similar a lot of things are to the things back on Earth, adding a bit of goo and some extra arms depending on the setting.

                -There’s no turning back now, is it? – I asked Arana.

Arana looked tired, it was almost time to sleep, for her and the girls.

                -You keep on doing the right thing. That path doesn’t gift emergency exits most of the time.

                -I really love it when you say things that shouldn’t make sense. – I said with all the love in the world.

                -But that they still make sense? – she said with a little smirk.

We both laughed a bit. Soon after Noah came back. After half an hour I called a nurse so he could take the girls to the nursery. Before that, I asked the nurse if he could take a photo of us five together.

The picture came out exceptionally beautiful if I may say so.

Noah and I would go back to the ship to let Arana rest in her room. After arriving, Noah quickly fell asleep.

I sat on my bed waiting for the next morning to come. Wishing to see the three women of my life again.

That night I dreamt about the perfect family I created. That night I dreamt about the family I’ve had left behind.

I wasn’t ready at all for the day they’d cross paths. That day was, now, unavoidable.