Lifespan Deathwatch

[Damien McEwan]

Later that day, after the Kusari Bumblebee set down at one of the spaceports on Planet Manhattan, Nivek leaves the cockpit and goes to the galley, joining Jaina at the table where she hasn't moved or spoken all day.

Over the past month, he's seen all her moods, or, at least he thought he had.

Normally overall, she's cheery, bright, kind-hearted, and just about any other word you can think of in that same vein. She has an extremely dark sense of humor, but even when she sometimes says things that would gobsmack and offend anyone in earshot, it can still somehow come off as hopeful and optimistic.

Right now though, she hurts...& the pain is so thick in the air, that when Nivek takes her hand from across the table, he feels like he's breathing water, and it breaks his heart.

Eventually, without looking up, she finally spoke and said, "I've made a terrible mistake."

"Talk to me." he said gently.

After a long pause, she said to him, "I saved somebody's life once."

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