"I forgot," Echo responded after a long pause.


    Analise rolled her eyes at the space in front of her.


    The nkets were warm and cozy, and it didn''t take long for her to drift off. When


    she finally woke up, it was already past 7:00 pm.


    "You''re up?" Scott stood just outside the resting cabin, holding a bowl of hot


    chicken soup.


    "Yeah."


    "Fiy made it a little while ago. It''s already past 7:00 pm. You''ve probably worked up an appetite," he said, handing her the bowl.


    "We didn''t bring much food on the starship, so it''s a bit basic. Sorry about that," Scott added with a hint of guilt.


    They usually eat nutrient packs on the Interster Starship. Nutrient packs were efficient, filling, easy to store, and decent for replenishing mind essence.


    "This chicken soup is great!" Analise smiled, taking the bowl into the resting cabin and digging in eagerly.


    Her period always made her extra sleepy, and she tended to sleep longer than usual. She hadn''t had lunch earlier, so the hunger hit hard.


    Back in the human world, Analise had to cook for herself. Now, she woke up to someone handing her a warm bowl of food, so this chicken soup wasn''t basic at all.


    "Feeling any better? Still nauseous from the flight?" Scott asked once she''d finished eating.


    "If you''re still ufortable, I brought some rity tonic," he said, setting a vial of it down on the small table inside the cabin.


    "I''m a lot better now. Where''s Fiy?" Analise raised her brow.


    Knowing Fiy''s usual clingy behavior, it was strange he hadn''t shown up yet.


    "He''s piloting the starship," Scott answered as if he''d been expecting that question.


    "Flying at night can be risky. Fiy and I take turns monitoring the systems and crew status. If anything goes wrong, we can jump in and fly it ourselves," Scott continued.


    "You seem upset," Analise suddenly said.


    Scott blinked. "What makes you say that?"


    "Just a feeling," she murmured, propping her chin in her hand.


    "A few days from now is the


    anniversary of my mother''s death softly. The war death


    Scott said


    his


    slowly slipped t


    The cabin lights cast soft shadows across his face. Hisshes flickered with every blink.


    Right now, Scott looked heartbreakingly fragile.


    "She must''ve been a kind, gentle person," Analise said, sitting up straighter and meeting his eyes.


    "She was. But sometimes, being too kind isn''t always a good thing." His hands curled into fists.


    Analise noticed the motion but didn''t pry.


    Grief was personal. If the grieving weren''t ready to open up, pushing would only make them hurt more.


    "If you ever feel like talking, I''m here," she said gently.


    "Can I hold you for a bit?" Scott asked quietly. "Like how Fiy does. Maybe you could pet my head, too?"


    He kept his head down, and his voice was barely a whisper. He was afraid he would be rejected again.


    He''d seen advice under his


    anonymous post on Cosmoseek.


    Onement told him to be brave


    Rejection from a female wasn''t


    shameful. Thatmenter even said to fix any misunderstandings before they lost someone they cared about.


    "Of course you can."


    Analise stepped forward, wrapped


    gently pulled his head


    her arms around his and


    pulled his head against her


    chest.


    "The dead don''te back, Scott," she whispered. "Don''t let yourself get trapped


    in the past."