We Leapt Into the Sky

Chapter 36

"I hope we'll keep in touch," Isabelle said as they reached the small spaceport. "I'd love to hear how you like New Calathea."

"Be careful what you wish for," Seph said. "I'll have time to send you mundane updates about my life."

"Good." She extended her arms, wrapping him in a comfortable embrace.

He turned to Bria, and she held out her hand. "I'm glad you visited, Seph. Best of luck."

He clasped it, giving her a firm shake. "And to you as well."

She smiled at him, waving as he headed for the gate with his suitcases.

A soft hum of background noise filled the air as people chattered and walked the halls while they waited for their ships. Seph leaned back in his seat and turned his head toward the glass window that stretched from floor to ceiling.

What would it be like to see Antony again? They had essentially planned to move across the universe together, but there was so much they hadn't talked about.

Moving there made sense. New Calathea had a good hospital system and prosthetics experts. He and Antony could have a fresh start, a chance to get to know each other in a new place. And even better, a beautiful place with mountains and forests and more green than he had seen in months. They could go hiking together. Oh, and the restaurants. He saw himself seated in a chic dining room, golden light illuminating Antony's hair like a halo and the lines deepening under his eyes as he laughed. It was a beautiful image, and he held onto it as the attendant at his gate announced that boarding was about to begin.

Eighteen hours later, Seph stood on the surface of an unfamiliar moon.

Interconnected domes stretched across the horizon. They housed several medium-sized colonies, the largest of which had grown into a city with a modest skyline, tall silver buildings standing out against the void. The domes blocked radiation and protected against the frequent meteor showers that pummeled the rocky moon.

Antony's building was a short concrete structure with thick glass windows. He stopped outside the hotel room and rubbed his hands together, partially to dispel anxiety and partially to ensure his hands weren't cold and clammy. Nervous energy thrummed through him, mixing with profound exhaustion. He placed his palms on his cheeks and shook himself.

Seph knocked on the door, and Antony answered immediately, a grin on his face. "Hey. Come in." He wore a cream-colored shirt and dark sweatpants that hung low enough on his waist that Seph spotted a hint of skin when Antony held his arm out. Seph embraced him. Warmth poured off Antony as he buried his face in Seph's shoulder, hugging him tight.

"It's good to see you," he said as he drew back.

"Glad to be here," Seph said. "And also glad to be off Acinos."

"No kidding." Antony leaned back against the arm of the couch. "Do you feel like you got what you needed there?"

"I think I did. Bria and I talked, and though there was no perfect moment of closure, the tension between us eased. And now she has someone who'll be there for her."

"That professor? Are they together now?"

"They seemed to be heading in that direction. There's certainly mutual affection between them."

"Good for them." He paused. "Oh hey, let me show you what I made in art therapy. Keep in mind that I'm a novice with one arm, alright?"

Seph picked up the vase and turned it over in his hand. It was simple and elegant in its shape, and the glaze glinted in the light. Brilliant turquoise melted into cobalt and deep purple as he examined it from all angles. "This is beautiful."