My mouth tastes of vomit. There are glowing remnants of light darting across my eyelids in the blackness.
Why did the power cut have to happen now, when I’m so near the sick bay?
I’m sure I can hear someone coming. The low grinding sound has shifted into the echo of footsteps, progressing down the corridor in a steady, unhurried march. An army of astronauts, coming for me.
Why aren’t the lights coming back on? How long does it take for the computer to reboot the subsystem, to—
As suddenly as they flickered off, the lights return. I twist around, checking all sides.
I’m completely alone. Of course.
I breathe again, for the first time in what feels like hours. There’s a horrible tightness in my chest, halfway to a panic attack. I force it away, blowing air into my lungs.
I’m being ridiculous. It was just a power cut. It only lasted a few seconds.
Everything in me wants to bolt, but I force myself to stay still. I won’t let this hysterical fear get the better of me.
I listen. I wait.
There it is. The creaking. I didn’t imagine it.
I turn my head from side to side, trying to locate the sound. I take a step closer to the fans on the far wall. There – on the right-hand side, low, near the ground.
I crouch. I listen.
The noise is coming from inside the panel. Before I open it, I can’t resist looking behind me, just to double-check that nothing is sneaking up on me. Even though I know I’m alone; I’m always alone.
I ease open the panel, wincing at the high-pitched squeak.
To my relief – and a slight, surprising disappointment – the problem is obvious. One of the screws holding the cooling fan in place has come loose, and the corner of the fan is vibrating slightly as it turns. Its low humming noise echoes through the room.
I twist it back into place. The humming stops. Silence reigns once more. And I start preparing myself to walk back past the sick bay.
DAYS UNTIL THE ETERNITY ARRIVES:
172
From: The Eternity Sent: 19/02/2067
To: The Infinity Received: 06/09/2067
Attachment: Nuclear-Worksheet-134.pdf [330 KB]
Good morning Romy!
What are you up to today? I’m planning to do some weight training, and then I’m going to lounge around eating snacks for the rest of the day, and undo all my hard work.
I was wondering if I could ask your help with a physics problem? I know, I know: I’m qualified in all this stuff, so it should be easy. But I’ve lost practice so quickly! It’s been over two years since my training on Earth. No wonder I’m supposed to do regular calculations. My brain needs a workout as much as my body – and right now it’s definitely out of shape.
I’m a bit stuck with Problem 6(a) on the worksheet I’ve attached. The solution doesn’t make much sense to me. Any chance you know the answer and can help me out? I’d really owe you one.
Looking forward to receiving the answer (in about eight months’ time!).
J x
From: The Infinity Sent: 06/09/2067
To: The Eternity Predicted date of receipt: 09/10/2067
Attachment: Possible-solution.pdf [280 KB]
J,
I’ve spent about two hours trying to solve the problem. It’s one I hadn’t seen before, so thanks for sending it over! (I found that way more exciting than I should’ve done. Whoo, someone sent me some new maths to do!)
Anyway, I think you might have forgotten to take into account the limits on the partial integration. But you’ve got most of the rest of it right. I’ve attached my notes just in case you’re still stuck, though you probably realized your mistake right after you emailed me.
Sorry for my terrible handwriting – it’s not as neat as yours. (I loved the little doodles in the margin, by the way! Are those people supposed to be us? We look like we’re having the best dance party ever.)
Thanks again for asking me about this. It was actually kind of an epiphany for me. I’ve been struggling to do physics problems for years – it was like my anxiety formed a block in my brain. When I was doing this one, I kept panicking and wanting to give up as usual. But I knew that I had to work it out for you, so I just forced myself to keep going.
Hopefully that mental block won’t reappear. I hated that my brain was stopping me from studying.
R x
FATED
by TheLoneliestGirl
Fandom: Loch & Ness (2042) Relationship: Lyra Loch/Jayden Ness Tags: NSFW
Summary: Some people are just destined to be together.
Author’s note:
I’m having a really good day.
Lyra and Jayden didn’t stop to talk. Jayden palmed her jaw and pressed his lips to hers, open-mouthed, pouring all of his emotion into it. Lyra shuddered, and reached one hand to cup his elbow, pressing his hand more firmly against her cheek.
Groaning into the kiss, J slid his other hand up her waist, fingertips just touching the skin under her shirt.
She touched the cut of his hip, pulled him against her, flicked his tongue with hers, and suddenly the kiss turned heated. She let out a moan.
J’s hand withdrew slowly enough to send sparks down her spine.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” Jayden said, nose pressed into her cheekbone. “I haven’t been able to think about anything but speaking to you.”
He kissed her again, like he couldn’t help it.
fin.
DAYS UNTIL THE ETERNITY ARRIVES:
171
When I’ve finished writing my latest fic, I reread the story to check for grammar and spelling mistakes. It’s only on the third reread that I notice I wrote J instead of Jayden halfway through: Groaning into the kiss, J slid his other hand up her waist, fingertips just touching the skin under her shirt.
Now that I’ve seen it written down, I can’t help but picture J instead of Jayden – but he’s kissing me, not Lyra. The image burns into my brain, and I can’t force it away. For a second I think my heart has stopped, and I can’t remember how to set it beating again. I’ve gone hot all over.
J and me, kissing. His hand brushing along my stomach, up to my chest… I trace the path of his fingers with my own, and my skin lights up, shivers creeping across the flesh, making me gasp.
J works out. He’s probably strong enough to push me up against a wall, his large hand easily cupping my cheek, his thumb pressing open my mouth. He would touch my bottom lip with just the tip of his tongue and stroke it across the sensitive inner skin, teasing me like the men in romance novels always do to the women they love.
I close my eyes and picture J pushing a leg between mine. I press the base of my palm between my legs, savouring the thrill that runs through me. Then I quickly pull my hand away. I can’t do this – not to J. Not to the only friend I’ve got. I don’t know how it never occurred to me before, considering I spend every waking hour thinking about him, but … I might have a crush on J.