Coincidentally, Lunëne was chosen for cleaning duty the next day. Similar to the cafe work, it wasn't a difficult task, but it meant I only saw them in passing most of the day.

             Especially since, after the miniscule amount of work the day before, I decide to treat myself to an especially lazy day. Which meant a quick breakfast and lunch, and then back to my room right after.

                My post-lunch reading time was interrupted by a concerning announcement from Milton.

                "Good afternoon! This is a heads up that we were tracking some lingering space debris and there will be a few minor collisions today that are looking to be unavoidable. Please don't worry, it is being handled and is not expected to cause any serious damage."

                The advance warning was a boon. Still, when the room started a familiar vibrating, I found myself instinctively reaching to grab the edge of the bed. And the distant rumbling grew louder, seemingly nearer. And my knuckles started to pale, gripping the mattress as if it were my only solid ground. I closed my eyes and searched within myself for some sort of Zen, focusing entirely on breathing slowly and deeper.

                The unsettling noise faded away after only a few minutes. Everything seemed to settle and I opened my eyes again. I was fine. Everything would be okay. A few minutes after that, I realized I was still gripping the bed with white knuckles.

                I only had to wait half an hour for the second collision. This one was smaller, which in an odd way was comforting. That made the unnerving noise easier to ignore. I still fumbled over every other word as I continued trying to read, split between focusing on the fantasy world in front of me and focusing on tuning out the real world around me.

                The third one didn't bring any bone chilling, white knuckle terror either. At that point, the impacts were just wearing on my nerves. This one lasted for too long though, dragging out how long I endured the anxiety sitting in the pit of my stomach. I groaned and rolled over, sliding the pillow over my head and covering my ears.

                Another hour until the fourth collision. I had been lulled into a false sense of security, thinking it was possibly over. And this one was the worst. I knew it would be okay; it had to be. Laying there however, just waiting to feel like the ground below me was solid again, it was... lonely. I pulled my blanket close and wrapped my arms around it. I didn't want to be here by myself, just waiting and comforting myself. I missed-

                "Sweety, I'm hoommeeeee." Lunëne's singsong voice cut through the background rumble. I jolted up and saw their head poking through my curtain, absolutely beaming.

                "Oh my goodness, I'm not a housewife from the 40's... um, but how was your day?" I could feel the stress slipping away like a memory as I tried to stop a goofy grin from absolutely taking over my face.

                "It could have been better. You?" They asked, slipping through the curtain and walking to my bed.

                "Terrible. Two whole days without seeing you, it's like torture." I answered half-jokingly, "Such a cruel twist of fate, separated for two days immediately following the birth of this new, blossoming relationship."

                "How can you be so poetic and so dorky at the same time? You're lucky you're so cute." They replied playfully as they slid up next to me, face only a few inches away. They continued in a soft whisper, "These damn collisions are so annoying."

                "The worst. I really hope that's the last one." I whispered back.

                "How dare you— you just jinxed it. Now there's gonna be, like, a million more." Their eyes widened and their hushed tone was a step louder. I couldn't tell if they were joking or not.

                "On no, I am so sorry. I take it back a million times." The concern that popped onto my face made them giggle.

                "You better be." They scolded, clearly joking this time.

                There were only two more collisions that day. We spent the rest of the night doing all of the things to forget about the word around us. With Lunëne, it was effortless.

###

                Waking up next to the person I had chosen, a partner, was like drifting weightlessly into consciousness. Not a care in the world, as if this was the only way I was supposed to be waking up every day. The way everyone should wake up. I wanted to spread the message, share my euphoric revelation.

                Lunëne laid nearly silent next to me with eyes closed. I shut my eyes as well and mirrored their tranquility. The moment couldn't last forever, but I hoped my silence could make it stretch as long as possible.

                The serenity lasted for maybe half an hour before they shifted around on the bed, then rolled over to face me. They opened their eyes to a squint and after seeing me, broke out into a grin and simultaneously started stretching. I started beaming before I sat up and felt a yawn taking over.

                "Last day awake." Their voice was still gravelly and tired. I finished my yawn and closed my eyes for a moment and also stretched.

                "Last time going into a medically induced slumber." I added.

                "I- what if something happens this time?" Their hushed voice hesitated, "I shouldn't even say that. I just keep thinking that everything is going so perfectly. Nothing ever goes this well for me for this long. I know we've done the long sleep before, but if something were to happen this time, I couldn't even-"

                "It's okay, it's going to be fine. Nothing is going to happen." I uttered in my most soothing tone. Their prolonged silence told me the words fell flat. The uneasy smile that broke out on their face was meant to reassure me, their appreciation for my effort.

                "Is that the book you're reading now?" They asked as their gaze passed behind me, focusing on the book haphazardly tossed into my bedside nook.

                "It is, I just started it yesterday. It's really good so far."

                "You started it yesterday? So, you must be just about done with the whole thing." They joked devilishly.

                "I am not that fast!" I replied, feigning indignation.

                "I know." They giggled.

                "I- did you..." I paused as what they said clicked in my mind. They laughed at my shocked expression as I tried to regain my composure. "Um, anyways... I actually think you'd like that book."

                "Oh yeah?" They asked, intrigued.

                "Yeah, I've somehow gotten into really steamy, sensual romance novels lately." I tried and failed to sound tantalizing. They propped their elbows up and rested their head in their hands, meeting my gaze with an intense look in their eye.

                "Read it to me."

                I subtly tilted my head in surprise. After a slight pause, I turned and grabbed the novel from the shelf.

                "Yeah okay, I’d love that." I replied.

                I opened the book and began reading, picking up from where I had left off. Lunëne scooched over to me and gently rested on me. I had to stop reading to add context and backstory half a dozen times. They nodded along thoughtfully to every explanation, enraptured by the story. And when I began to lose steam, they gently took the book and began reading to me. I laid back and closed my eyes, lost in the story myself.

                We went to the cafeteria twice to eat, but otherwise we spent the entire day together in my tiny room. I was the one to finish reading the book out loud, with Lunëne laying on my chest. Their eyelids were drifting further closed with every leisurely blink, as they were finding the meandering slip into slumber more alluring.

                I glanced at the clock, confirming my fear. An announcement from Milton punctuated my thoughts abruptly and Lunëne jolted up as the quiet was interrupted. We had reached the end of the day, and time to prepare for cryo-sleep. In our own rooms.

                Lunëne raised lazily and turned towards me. We shared a look, eyes locked together, as an invisible fist gripped my stomach and twisted it.

                We leaned into each other and our lips met in the middle. I lost myself in the moment, savoring the passion and longing.

                "I'll see you tomorrow." They whispered to me as we pulled apart.

                "I'll see you tomorrow." I whispered back, fighting to stop my voice from wavering.

                As they left, I struggled to keep the calm expression on my face while I relaxed my muscles. I focused on deeper breaths, slowing down, holding onto the peaceful thoughts as I readied myself.

                I lay back onto my mattress and followed a familiar ritual, the déjà vu strangely helping to comfort me, as the lid lowered and sealed me within. I closed my eyes and dreamed of the best future.