Fading Star [Short Story]

Introduction

The Eclipse was a vessel of exploration, gliding silently through the uncharted expanse of the galaxy.

Its mission was to discover the unknown, to push the boundaries of human understanding, but for some aboard, the journey was more than just a mission—it was an escape.

Among the crew was Kayden, known as Kade, a man whose enigmatic nature set him apart. He was the ship's engineer, a master of technology, yet there was something about him that no one could quite figure out. His past was a closed book, locked away behind his distant demeanor and the walls he'd built around his heart.

For Kade, the Eclipse was a chance to forget. To bury the memories of a life he could no longer bear to remember. But those memories haunted him, no matter how far he traveled, no matter how many light-years he put between himself and the past.

Emelia, known affectionately as Em by the crew, was the ship's medic. Her touch was gentle, her presence calming, and her smile could light up the darkest corners of the ship. She had a way of seeing through people, sensing the pain they tried to hide.

And from the moment she met Kade, she knew there was something broken inside him—something he was desperately trying to keep hidden.