I woke from a restless nightmare on the last day of the week. My pulse thudded lightly as I began to catch my breath and look around. The clock dimly showed 6:23am, and the lights in the hallway were still a dim amber gently lighting the gap below my curtain. I rolled over and groaned quietly into my pillow. I could feel sleep calling me, telling me to close my eyes. Except when my eyes were shut, I began to see the shadows of whatever had caused me to wake in the first place. I opened my eyes again and stared at the ceiling for a moment before reluctantly sitting up and getting out of bed. I just had to be busy... and the easiest way to truly get my mind off of the dream that was slowly slipping away was to hit the gym. I put on some comfortable clothes and left my room.

                The gym was nearly empty, only one person was there silently stretching in the corner. I walked over to a treadmill, stepped up, and began a light jog. My mind wandered, from the excitement of the initial launch and looking back at my parents one last time, to the first day and my unexpected trip to the infirmary.

                Meeting Lunëne, Audrina, Bryn, Garland, Elissa, Valentin, Silas... I replayed those moments in my head, smiling to myself and then cringing at every embarrassing word I had spoken. Desperately asking Milton to let me read my parents message as soon as I had woken up. I glanced down at the timer to see it had been eleven minutes.

                I began to imagine what the new planet would be like. They had shown us pictures from the first expedition that landed; that crew had only stayed for a few days to take photos and confirm the environmental conditions, before moving on to a nearby planet that was less hospitable but with more natural resources. Eventually that first group of adventurers would join us on the more hospitable planet.

                We had been instructed on our various tasks to build an initial outpost and maintain it, just until our automated tech built more permanent homes for us all. We weren't expected to be architects or engineers, more like researchers of the new planet. Explorers. Finding which plants could be grown easiest and if there were local sources of food. Recording weather patterns, experiencing the shorter days and seasons and adjusting as needed. And in a few years... potentially starting families. I let my mind continue to wander for a while.

                I could feel a few beads of sweat sliding down my face, breaking me out of my various visions of the future. I looked down to see the timer now claiming I had been running for forty-three minutes. Suddenly feeling my breath laboring and my muscles straining, it was like I returned to my body. I slowed to a walk and drew in several larger breaths to calm my body. I was finally ready to head back to my room, but knew I should cool down first.

                After a few minutes of steady walking, I stepped off the treadmill a bit sore, but with a surprising bounce in my step. I headed for the showers and took my last lukewarm shower for the week. I wasn't sure how warm the showers would be on the new planet, but it seemed like anything would be an improvement. I quickly dried myself off and changed into clean clothes. Walking past several groggy people entering the gym, I headed back to my room. I walked in, closed my curtain, collapsed into my bed. Without even realizing it, I slipped into the most incredibly comfortable nap, sleeping through breakfast entirely.

                I woke up laying on my stomach with half my face buried in my pillow, and slowly opened my right eye. I blinked a few times, then pushed myself up and out of bed. I sleepily scratched my head and looked at the time, telling me it was between breakfast and lunch— when I would usually be reading or hanging out with people.

                I groaned and slumped back onto the edge of my bed. The past few days had been fine, and it wasn't like me to be this tired. Maybe it had something to do with the feeling I got in the pit in my stomach whenever I let myself think about the next sleep. The longest one.

                I wearily stood up to brush off the thoughts and to head to the library. I would be waking up 'tomorrow' so I just had to get ready for... tomorrow. I walked out to the hallway, which was eerily quiet, and went into autopilot towards the library. The silence wasn't unusual for this time of day on the ship, but the nap had thrown me off.

                Getting to the library was a comforting feeling, with the four rows of books in the middle, walls lined with more shelves, the singular table off to the side, and a desk towards the front for checking out and checking in books. Sitting at the table was a familiar face.

                "Hey!" Audrina exclaimed after noticing me and lowered her book slightly to catch my eye. "Um, Soelli! How are you?"

                "I'm good, just grabbing something new for next week. Like the next week we're awake I mean." I added clumsily. She grinned as I continued, "How are you?"

                "Good! Reading my guilty pleasure book," She tilted the cover so I could see it clearly, "My Sweet Halation. Just a cheesy romance novel."

                "Guilty pleasure, huh? I love those, maybe I'll pick that up after you're done reading it." I remarked while walking over to my usual shelf and staring at the same books I had stared at half a dozen times before. "Hey, got any recommendations for me in the meantime?"

                "From that shelf? For you... hmmm, only a few..." She muttered, deep in thought. "I'd say maybe The Skull at the Edge of the Sea. It's a dark murder mystery, little bit of horror, lot of romance in the middle... pretty good in my opinion." I scrolled my finger along to find it and pull it off the bookshelf.

                "Ok, nice. Yeah, I'll check it out, thanks." I replied while skimming over the back cover.

                "Do you read a lot? I don't really see you much in here." She asked, leaning back in her chair.

                "Oh yeah, I pretty much just pop in and out, grab whatever looks good. And I don't read in here; I usually read at the Solarium or back in my room." I answered while I meandered over to the check out and scanned the new book.

                "The Solarium! That's a great idea, why didn't I think of that? I've only walked past a few times; I've never actually gone in." She marveled with a smile.

                "I'm actually going there now..." I replied with a tone that sounded like a question.

                "Oh cool, I mean if you don't mind... that sounds fun" She responded with her own question posing as a statement.

                "Yeah, no of course, let's do it." I opened the door as she stood up and grabbed her guilty pleasure book. I stood with the door open as she walked through, and I led the way to the Solarium. We made small talk about different books we had read recently and which we would recommend before arriving to our destination.

                "Wow, this is nicer than I imagined!" She exclaimed as she walked in. She caught a glimpse of the window and shuffled over to it in excitement, "Wait, is this what I think it is?"

                "Yeah, they should have one in every room. Although it's usually so... empty. Actually, it's kind of bleak after a while, at least in my opinion. Last week though, there were a few stars that were close enough to get a good look at that were really cool. Maybe next week there'll be more to look at."

                "Next week... I like that." She murmured while staring out the window into the expanse of space. "I keep thinking about it like chapters. Like next chapter, we'll wake up and get to see new things."

                "Hmm, yeah I like that too." I sat and examined the room as if I had new eyes. I looked back at Audrina who had also started to look around at the rest of the room. There was a comfortable silence for a moment, with a quiet hum from the lights above us and the rustling of leaves from Audrina brushing her hand across several colorful flowers. Suddenly my eyes widened and I suddenly interrupted the calm by abruptly jumping to my feet.

                "Oh, it's probably lunch time! I was going to meet up with my friends, I'm so sorry." I exclaimed, hurriedly checking the time. I was late but I could still make it.

                "Don't worry about it! Thanks for showing me my new reading spot." She replied, practically beaming.

                "Yeah, definitely, enjoy! I'll see you around!" I replied, returning her joyous expression. I walked out the door quickly while trying to still seem casual. I sped in the direction of the cafeteria, navigating around the few people who were starting to leave.

                I walked into the cafeteria and almost immediately made eye contact with Silas, who said something to the rest of the table. I saw Garland and Valentin both turn their heads to look at me and Garland gave a small wave.

                I waved back as I walked over to the shortest line. After a minute I had a tray of mac and cheese, and was walking over to the table. I sat down to assortment of inquisitive and amused looked.

                "So... did you get lost or...?" Silas joked.

                "Silas with the jokes today! Earlier he wanted to take bets again, but that was the only one he could come up with. Must have money burning a hole in your pocket to make a bet like that, huh?" Valentin teased. Silas shrugged with a wide grin.

                "Just got lost in a good book." I replied, equally amused, before digging into the mac and cheese that suddenly smelled really good and tasted incredible. I had forgotten that I hadn't eaten breakfast until now.

                "One of those books that you can't put down all through breakfast and most of lunch, huh? We're not going to see you for dinner, are we?" Valentin commented. I looked up mid bite, slowly finished eating, and then grinned apprehensively.

                "Actually... Bryn is having this 'end of the week of workouts' party thing, so..." I trailed off.

                "Oh my goodness, he's too good for us." Garland heckled, shaking her head in faux disappointment.

                "On our last day too. Also, that's a terrible party name. Aren't you just gonna lose any trace of muscle after cryo sleep anyway?" Valentin pondered facetiously.

                "Don't listen to him, your muscles look great," Lunëne chimed in, "And I'm sure they'll look great in twelve years too. I mean tomorrow.

                ""Exactly, I'm just gonna see you guys tomorrow anyways." I shot back with eyebrows raised and a smirk. I turned my attention to Lunëne, "And thank you."

                "Don't get too excited, Lunëne said that about my muscles too and I haven't even been working out this week." Valentine chimed in. Lunëne rolled their eyes.

                "Just this week? You mean ever?" Elissa taunted.

                "You'd like me with or without muscles. I could be a twig and you'd still love me." Valentin answered back. Elissa opened her mouth to reply but faltered.

                "Oh wow, Valentin, I didn't know you were in loovveeee." Garland teased with a twinkle in her eye.

                "Hey, no... I'm just saying anyone would love me. I mean I have an incredible personality." Valentin spluttered for the first time. Everyone's eyebrows shot up almost in unison.

                "...flawless with your recovery." Silas chimed in. Valentin looked at Elissa and shrugged sheepishly while she smirked back at him. Lunëne met my eye and we silently conversed with our expressions alone. Silas and Garland continued to rag on Valentin and Elissa. I basked in the comforting feeling.

                "Ok, well this has been great, but it is way past lunch and time for my afternoon siesta. Catch y'all later." Valentin stood up, while Elissa stood and said her goodbyes as well. The rest of us started to get up as well. I had a few hours until the Bryn party so I decided to head back to my room to relax. I left the cafe with Lunëne close behind.