Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 53

Olivia sat up in her bed, propped up by several pillows that cradled her aching body. The sterile, controlled environment of the Medbay felt worlds away from the harsh red landscape of Mars. Yet, the tension in her shoulders never fully left, even now, surrounded by the quiet hum of the Hermes. Her gaze drifted to the tablet resting in her lap, its dark screen reflecting the overhead lights.

It had only been a few days since they were pulled from the cold vacuum of space, but it felt like she had lived a lifetime since then. She flexed her fingers, still weak and trembling from months of malnutrition and injury, and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. The central line in her chest tugged slightly with her movements, a constant, unnerving reminder of how fragile her body had become.

Johanssen sat beside her, her usual calm demeanor steadying Olivia more than she cared to admit. There was something about her presence that made the weight of everything feel a little lighter. Johanssen didn't speak much—she didn't need to. Instead, she offered the quiet comfort of just being there, her eyes flicking up occasionally to check the monitor attached to Olivia's bed.

Beth's presence beside Olivia was comforting as they waited for the call to connect. The tablet rested on Olivia's lap, her hands nervously fidgeting with the edge of the blanket covering her legs. Johanssen had been her constant companion in Medbay, helping her adjust, and today was no different. Olivia appreciated the quiet, supportive energy Johanssen exuded, grounding her amidst the flurry of emotions swirling inside.

The familiar beep of the tablet brought her attention back to the screen, her heart fluttering as Mitch Henderson's tired but kind face appeared. He looked older, more weathered than she remembered, his features etched with a mix of relief and exhaustion. But as soon as he saw her, his smile was like a ray of sunshine, genuine and heartwarming.

"Hey, Liv," Mitch said, his voice gruff but warm, a sense of pride shining in his eyes. "You look good. Well, considering everything you've been through."

Olivia couldn't help but return his smile, though it felt small and tentative compared to Mitch's bright one. "Thanks, Mitch. It's... it's good to see you."

They exchanged a few more words, Mitch carefully asking about how she was doing and how it felt to be back on the Hermes. She gave him the basics—how Beck was monitoring her, how she was slowly rebuilding her strength—but the weight of the truth lay heavy on her tongue. Still, talking to Mitch brought a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos, reminding her that there were people back on Earth who had been rooting for her all along. The connection between them felt tangible despite the vast distance separating them, bridging the gap between their two worlds for just a moment.

As the conversation began to wind down, Mitch's face softened with something like fatherly concern. "Liv, you've done incredible. We're all so damn proud of you. When you're ready... there's someone else who wants to talk to you."

Olivia's brows furrowed in confusion, but before she could ask what he meant, Mitch stepped back from the screen, and her breath caught in her throat as the image changed. Her mother's face appeared on the tablet, her soft features drawn with emotion.

"Mom," Olivia whispered, her voice cracking.

Her mother's eyes immediately filled with tears, and Olivia felt her own eyes sting in response. The two of them simply looked at each other for a long moment, the distance between them suddenly feeling vast despite the technological connection. Her mother hadn't changed much—her hair was a little grayer at the temples, her face etched with lines of worry, but she was the same. The same woman who had raised her, the same woman Olivia had been thinking about during those long, lonely nights on Mars.