Sarah lies on her back, staring up at the memory of a night sky.

  The moon floats high and full. Stars burning bright, like summer fireflies.

  Arthur appears beside her. “I remember this like it was yesterday.”

  He lowers himself onto the platform, taking her hand. “Climbing up here, stargazing — one of the best choices we ever made.”

  With his other hand, he points toward a constellation. “We’re right there… just above that ridge.”

  Sarah smiles softly. “Remember when Junior would come out here with his telescope?”

  Arthur doesn’t answer right away. “Of course I do. I built this platform after he fell.”

  He swallows, eyes glossing. “Just a broken arm… but I was so scared.”

  Sarah knows if she presses, he’ll vanish.

  Instead, she rolls onto her side, watching him with the same love she’s had since the day they met.

  “How’s everything holding up?”

  Arthur wipes a tear from his cheek. “We’re broadcasting our emergency call. If anyone’s listening, we should see help within a day.”

  He squeezes her hand — grounding her, maybe grounding himself.

  “If Varhee did her job, maybe we stay semi-warm. Might only drop to… negative fifty.”

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  Sarah rolls fully into his arms. “I’ve got plenty of blankets in here.”

  She kisses him deeply.

  Varhee’s voice echoes from the real world, breaking through the night sky overhead.

  “Sir? Help me down… sir?”

  Arthur vanishes, waking in the real.

  He turns. Varhee’s head pokes out from the vent.

  He walks over, smiling, and helps her down.

  She grins, exhausted. “Thanks for the help. I nearly killed myself getting down from the engine room.”

  “Good work, Varhee,” he says. “All we can do now… is wait.”

  Varhee leans against the wall, wrapped in thermal blankets.

  Arthur paces slowly, breath visible in the freezing air.

  “So…” she says after a moment, “what’s Sarah like?”

  Arthur stops, surprised. “I haven’t been asked that question in six thousand years.”

  A soft smile grows. “She’s brilliant. Funny. Sweet. She loves the violin and plays it like no one else.”

  His eyes warm — then ache. “She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She’s my soul. My everything. The reason I breathe. Without her, I don’t know what I’d do.”

  Sarah’s voice brushes his ear, loving and close. “You’re so sweet. I love you.”

  Varhee studies him. “So how does it work?”

  Arthur exhales. “Like I said, she lives inside this device.”

  He removes the coin drive from his belt, holding it with both hands. “And inside my head. We’re connected. She can hear things — like you talking. She sees through my memories.”

  A flicker of pain moves across his face. “I don’t know what else to say.”

  ---

  In the Void, Sarah sits on her red couch, reading.

  Soft light gathers around her, like it’s looking for answers.

  “It’s okay,” she murmurs.

  Arthur appears nearby. “I just wanted to give you a kiss.”

  “Well then,” she says, standing, “what are you waiting for?”

  She wraps her arms around him and kisses him — gentle, warm, familiar.

  He sits beside her. “I’m sorry you’re trapp—”

  She presses a finger to his lips. “I told you, this life isn’t so bad. I make the most of it.”

  She grins. “And don’t tell my husband, but the guard of this prison you talk about is extremely handsome.”

  She walks across the shallow water, leaving ripples behind.

  “I have endless knowledge. Memories that span thousands of years.”

  She turns, eyes glowing. “And the most important thing in my life… is you.”

  She steps close again, her hand cupping his cheek.

  “I wasn’t ready to die when I climbed into this thing.”

  She smiles softly. “But spending eternity with you? That was the easiest choice I ever made.”

  She leans in, whispering, “I’d do it again. And again.”

  Then she kisses him.

  ---

  Back in the real world—

  “Sir? You okay?” Varhee asks.

  Arthur blinks back into the freezing room. “Yeah. Just talking to Sarah. Old conversations.”

  He rubs his arms. “She’s reading. I gave her a kiss. Told her I loved her.”

  He starts doing jumping jacks to warm up.

  Crosses to a console. “Seventeen degrees in here.”

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