A Moment of Quiet Reflection

Posted on Tue Oct 23rd, 2018 @ 2:43am by Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 2: Mission 2.A: R&R
Location: Aboretum
Timeline: After JP with Matias
541 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

After talking with Matias, Gary strolled the decks of the Elysium. He didn't go back to his quarters or to the bridge or even the gym. He didn't
go to the holodeck. Instead he went to the Elysium's arboretum. It was a location he rarely visited and tonight he sought out it's solace. He was lucky
it was empty. Taking a seat on a bench he looked out into the inky blackness of space. The stars shined like diamonds. He was alone. He would always be alone. He should have realized it sooner but he had been consumed with grief over Catlin's death. He experienced a brief rebirth of happiness when he met Lia and later fell in love with her only to have her ripped from his grasp as well. The candle blown out in the wind. It's said everyone has a destiny. His was to be alone, now, the next day, for the next week, month for all the endless years that laid before him. He closed his eyes and sighed. He had foolishly thought or hoped that perhaps he and Liselle could be together. Even Lia and proposed and encouraged that to happen. He thought Liselle knew how he felt about her. He knew how she felt about him or at least did. He wasn't sure if she still did but it was nice to hope and pretend that she did. However with Matias feeling like he did about Liselle, he couldn't undercut the man even if he was really a wolf and a friend. Real men didn't do that. Real men hide their pain, their disappointment their hurt. They sucked it up and went on. So would he.

He glanced out the viewport at the tiny twinkling specs of light. Each represent a world, a world full of millions, billions of people. Happy people, who had someone to love, to laugh with. To share life with. To experience all the ups and downs that came and he envied all of them and what they had and how lucky and fortunate they were. He dropped his head and closed his eyes. Opening them a few minutes later he came to a decision at least a tentative one. He wouldn't rush, he would think on it. There was no need to be rash or hasty. He had time.

He got up and walked alone. "Computer play Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers." Soon the soulful, heartfelt lyrics could be heard in the arboretum for it like his heart it was empty.

Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
"Wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home, wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered, for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me