You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

Posted on Sun Nov 6th, 2022 @ 3:02am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: The Tea House
Timeline: Present
525 words - 1.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia sat on the floor of the tea house, she had sent Gary her support as best she could. His response had told her he understood, now she too had to think what would happen next in her life. Many thoughts entered her mind, some good some bad. Happy times with friends and sad times when those friends departed in both life and in duty. What exactly did the Elysium mean to her? She had made it clear that her commission would be resigned if that's what it took for Gary to leave and take command, but what did that really mean for her?

"Computer, find and play `Dusty Springfield, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me'. =/\="Track found, starting play back"=/\= came the response.


When I said I needed you
You said you always stay
It wasn't me who changed but you, and now you've gone away.

Don't see that now you've gone
And I'm left here on my own
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home.

You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't need to stay forever, I will understand
Believe me, believe me
I can't help but love you
But believe me I'll never tie you down.

Left alone with just a memory
life seems dead and so unreal
All that's left is loneliness
There's nothing left to feel.

Believe me, believe me
Believe me, believe me
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't need to stay forever, I will understand
Believe me, believe me
Believe me

As the song played, Lia thought on her life with Gary. He had changed, the old Gary had gone away. But her new Gary, well he was different. He was the one she had to follow and bring home, she didn't want to be alone again. A tear welled up in her eye, memories of her past flashed by. But they both had decided to join together, share their dreams and futures. Would she ever give him the one thing he wanted? A child, and if he became a ship's Captain. Would he have the time to raise that child? She wanted Elysium's CMO to look after her, that old Lizard knew way more than he let on. But what if? What if they left and started again? She'd never hold any position of any worth on Gary's new ship, nepotism would be used against Gary and herself. How do you explain why your wife is Chief of Security?

Her life as she knew it had changed beyond what she realised it had, now it included another. Perhaps it was time to put her dreams away, to finally give up Star Fleet and her career and become just a wife and civilian. Only one thing mattered now, Gary. Second on her new list was a child, by any method and any means. Third would be finding a way to show everyone that she was serious about this, and that meant only one thing. Resign.

Commander Lia Taylor
Chief Security Officer
USS Elysium