Chapter 5

With Arana and the girls finally out of the Bay, it was time to go to Mara. Arana and I were so excited about the idea of her parents meeting the girls.

Before traveling I went to say goodbye to Erek’a and her family. They seemed happy; her brother would receive a new prosthesis. She hugged me, asking me, that if I ever came back, I’d looked for her to tell her about all my voyages. Her father walked me outside the room.

                -Please, give my regards to your brother. – he told me with a gloomy tone.

I never had a brother. Even if him implying having met me before and the relationship with my nonexistent brother was weird, at that moment I affixed it to his old age that couldn’t let him think straight.

                -Sure. I’m certain he will love hearing from you. – I said kindly.

After returning, the nurses had already taken Arana and the girls inside the ship. Just after entering, I went to our room, where I found Arana sleeping. She looked so peaceful, I let her continue her sleep.

Finally igniting the ship, we took off. When we left Dema, a strange ship arrived, it was different from the Zemedian one, so I didn’t mind it. My mind was focused on the journey to Mara.

While flying towards the port to jump to the Deimara system, Noah approached me.

                -How long until we arrive? –

                -Two days son. –

                -How do you know it has been a day in space? -

I turned to him with a smile. I opened my mouth to talk, but he continued asking.

                -Mom always tells me “We are twelve parsecs away” or “there’s twenty clicks left” when I ask her. – he said, waiting for a similar response.

                -Sure. Thing is that your mom was raised to communicate with those terms like you are taught at school or how you read in your books. – I explained to him.

While we approached the port I increased the speed, ready to make the jump to Deimara’s system.

                -And why do you measure it in days? – he asked really confused.

                -Because on Earth we were never taught about space travel. -

After telling him that I looked at his hand, where I saw he still had my old phone. The idea of coming back to Earth was haunting me again.

                -The life we have right now, all the trips, adventures, and new experiences that we enjoy, back on Earth seem impossible while I was young. We didn’t get inter-system travels until seven years ago. I never had that kind of space education that your mom had. -

After saying that, Noah stood still. We were finally reaching the bridge to Deimara, Noah marveled at the technological wonder that it was.

                -So, if you can’t see the stars nor the moons, how could you know that a day has passed? – he said without taking his eyes from the bridge.

                -You feel it inside of you. When you travel constantly, it’s like breathing or blinking. You just feel it inside of you, knowing it is natural. – I replied without taking my eyes from the bridge, I was also impressed by its technology of it.

Noah didn´t ask anymore, I suppose that the answer was enough, it had enough heart just as he liked on everything.

                -The jump is lengthy. What do you want to do while we wait till we arrive? – I asked while letting go of the rudder.

Noah ran to his room without answering. Quickly, before I could get up from my chair, Noah arrived with four board games boxes in his hands.

I left out a chuckle and nodded, I received the boxes while he set the table.

After five hours of playing Marani, the “alien version” of Monopoly, Nahya started crying.

                -Let me see what’s going on with your sister. – I told him while standing up.

I walk away for a second and turned back.

                -I’m taking these. – I told him while taking my game bills.

I walked to the girl’s room. While entering I saw both on their cradles. Narumi was sleeping as if nothing around her existed. Nahya was crying so hard that I started to think that maybe Narumi was deaf.

I took Nahya in my arms. I checked if her diaper was full, fortunately, it wasn’t the case. Arana, who woke up because of her crying, approached me, took Nahya, and feed her.

When Nahya went back to sleep, Arana sat with Noah and me and watched us play. Noah, as always, won at Marani. After finishing, we decided to play chess, the only board game I brought from Earth. Arana guided Noah, making it feel as if the game was between me and her, Noah didn’t seem to mind, he thought he was in control.

On that moment we all believe there was a certain level of control on our lives.

                -He believed the stuff about the days? – she asked me unbelieving.

                -I’ve been telling you for twelve years, days last the same on both edges of the galaxy. – I replied.

                -I think you’ve traveled enough to know you’re wrong. -

                -I know I’m right your highness. – I answered in a cheeky tone.

We both laughed for a bit. After that Arana and I kissed, like that time we fell in love for the first time. After the kiss, I took her to bed.

                -The autopilot is on; you don’t have to take the rudder back. she said holding my hand.

I stood without replying, I tried to release my hand, but she held it firmly.

                -Edmon would’ve not wanted to see you killing yourself navigating. – she said trying to look into my eyes.

I tried to say something, but she, as always, knew what to say to fix it.

                -Remember what that name stands for Dorian. –

                -Neverender. – I said with a little smile.

For the first time in six years, I decided to sleep on the automatic route. I slept better than I had slept in many years.

We were a day away from arriving at the Deimara system. The woman I love, my three beautiful children, and me.

That feeling didn’t last long, given that Nahya started crying again.

                -I’m not getting up this time. – Arana said harshly.

I left a chuckle out before getting up to do my favorite job. Taking care of my family.