XLVII

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I awake to an obnoxious beeping sound.

It's my holopad.  I put my hand on top of it and an image pops up around my fingers.

"Captain Andor, please report to the medbay, immediately."

My stomach drops.  I pull on a coat, drop the holopad in my pocket, and run down the halls to the medbay.

There's a gaggle of meddroids gathered around her bed. I try to push through them, but they're stronger. "Please stand back," they repeat over and over.

"That's my wife!"

"Please stand back."

"Let me see her!"

"Clear!"

Her body jerks.

"LET ME SEE HER!"

"Clear!"

I scream in frustration. A medic waves me to the foot of her bed. He warns me not to touch her as her body jerks again.

Suddenly, the commotion dies down. "Time of Death, o'four hundred sixteen hours," a droid announces.

"No!" I collapse onto my knees, my arms resting on her feet. "No! No."

The droids leave. A human medic stands in the corner quietly.

I move to her side. "Linami..." I can't continue. I drop my head to her chest and sob.

An idea pops into my head. What if — like those fairy tales — a true love's kiss will bring her back?

I try it. Her lips are cold and dry and chapped. Her face is still as pale when I lift my face, but now it's wet from my tears.

She's gone.

Within a moment, she's gone from is to was. It was us, now it's me. I'm a widower.

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