Lifespan Deathwatch

[Damien McEwan]

Jaina went to see a movie at the spaceport multiplex. She's not sure which one she picked, nor does she care. She's not paying attention to it anyway. All she wants to do right now is kill time.

That, and just curl up and hide in the dark.

------

Nivek went into one of the gift shops inside the spaceport. He's not sure what he wants to buy, but he likes to think he'll know it when he sees it. Part of him wants to go back to Jaina and admit he acted rashly, but he's not paying attention to that part right now.

The part of him he is listening to just wants to find a random transport and hide himself somewhere up in the black.

------

Jaina leaves the spaceport and walks the streets at random. She doesn't pay attention to where she's going, but hears a hot dog vendor off in the distance hawking his crap.

It took her a moment to realize she's been retracing her steps. In a moment of nostalgia, she buys one off the vendor and takes a bite.

After a few chews, it was exactly like she thought it would be.

She spits the nasty glob into a dustbin by the wall, and tosses the the rest away.

She feels the urge to buy another one. She doesn't question why, she just does it. She experiences another wave of loneliness sweep over her, so she buys two. One for her, and one for Nivek.

She knows it's a waste of money, but asks the vendor to toss them in a bag, to go.

Carrying it with her as she moved on somehow made her feel a little better.

------

Nivek picks a transport at random, and leaves the spaceport. He didn't pay attention to where it was headed, and arrives at Newark Station. He hasn't eaten in hours, so he finds his way to the food court.

He feels the urge to buy a hot dog. He hates hot dogs, but he's hungry and doesn't question it. After he finishes, he buys two more to take with him on his next flight, and asks the vendor to toss them in a bag.

He picks another transport randomly, and as he walks through the tunnel to get on board the ship, he feels another wave of regret and loneliness wash over him.

He imagines that he's saving one of the dogs he's carrying for Jaina, and in a small way, it somehow helps him feel a little better.

---