Her Astronaut

✯2✯

ONE YEAR AGO

The sound of high-pitched melodic whistling was not enough to stir the sleeping body in the early hours of that cold November morning. Although it was the infamous high pitched whistle from Kill Bill (a true favorite in that household), it had no effect.

Already awake and making coffee, the other occupant of that home came into the bedroom of the sleeping loaf upon realizing that a simple alarm wasn't going to cut it.

Walking in with a piping cup of aromatic coffee, the woman sat the hot mug loudly down on the bedside table before throwing open the blackout curtains in a dramatic fashion. Although morning light had barely begun to peek over the horizon, it was still enough illumination to bring light into the dark dungeon of a room.

"God damnit Cass. What the hell?"

"Mind your tongue young lady. You were the one who INSISTED that I help get you out of bed and moving this morning. Do I need to remind you about what's happening today?"

The lump of blankets sat up transforming into a half-awake human. Nova yawned loudly while simultaneously waving off her aunt.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I just took forever to fall asleep last night."

"Brain unable to shut off?" Cass looked at her sympathetically while taking a place next to Nova on the bed. She softly began to rub the younger one's back.

"Yeah..." she hesitated, "We are almost one year since that fucking nightmare of a day. On top of it, this is my first big gig without her. Even with the extra strength melatonin and magnesium that you suggested ... ugh."

The past year had been a long journey of coping with grief. Although Cass had experienced the same unexpected loss, it hit Nova the hardest. After multiple years of personal trials and tribulations, it came to a head when COVID snatched the person that was her world.

Her Aunt Jenn.

"Damnit Cass, I'm sorry. Please forgive me and my stupid pity party."

Quietly grabbing Nova's hand, Cass looked up at her with shining yet sympathetic eyes.

"I might have lost my wife, but you lost the maternal figure in your life. Yes, she was the love of my life but I had less than 5 years with her. You knew her ever since you were an adolescent and she was your rock for the entirety of your adult life. You're allowed to be sad, angry, or however that you need to feel."

Nova slammed her eyes shut while burrowing her head into the elder's neck desperately trying not to cry.

"Hey, it's okay sweetheart. Even though it's been almost a year, it's okay if you are still processing her loss. I know you hate sappy motivational speeches but think of this new assignment at work as a way to continue your aunt's legacy. She started this company as a way to help bring more global artists and entertainers to our country. You have definitely hit the jackpot with this particular artist."

"But why doesn't it have to be fucking K-pop?"

"Your disdain for that genre still blows my mind. Not only are you obsessed with everything KCulture, but you are fluent in Korean both conversationally and Hangul!"

"Well yeah, I got tired of reading the subtitles while watching Kdramas with Jenn."

"That's beside the point," Cass said while lovingly glaring at Nova.

"That was Aunt Jenn's culture and I always loved conversing in Korean. It felt like our secret language."

"Back to my point, you fell for everything from her culture except the music."