NOVEL NEXT Chapter 147: Destiny
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Jillian: I'm happy for you, really. But if he gives me the flu, I'm locking you both in that hab for a month.
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December 4th, 2090, about 4:00 pm MST, Montana City
The shuttle thrummed beneath him—a low, constant vibration, just enough to remind him that nothing under his feet was solid. Not anymore. The chair wasn't his, the shuttle wasn't his, the company sure as hell wasn't his. Claire had taken that, and now he was flying cargo-class on the transfer run like any other technician.
He hadn't asked for special treatment. She hadn't offered it.
The Q-net sync flickered above his wrist. A fuzzy hologram shimmered into view, glitching once before settling. Marie. Seated on the edge of their bed—her bed, really. Back straight, hair tucked behind her ears. But there was a softness to her posture he hadn't seen before. A kind of unclenching.
"So. . .you really did it. You're coming back."
He nodded. "Yeah. I sold the shares. I broke things off with Karen. Got Claire to lift the ban. I'm on the regular cargo transfer run to Mars now. Three days."
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Marie's breath caught, just barely. "I heard. From Claire." A pause. "I wasn't sure if you'd call."
"I wasn't sure if you'd pick up."
That got a smile, small and real. It faded quickly.
"Gordon," she said. "I need to tell you something. And I need to do it before I lose my nerve."
He sat still. Let her speak.
"When you chose me—even before this call—I started thinking maybe I've been the one holding us back. Hiding behind logic. Plans. Backup plans. Quietly trying to be prepared for disappointment."
She took a deep breath. "But you just threw away the safe option. So I'm going to throw away mine.
She looked directly into the camera. It felt like she was looking straight through the screen. "I love you."
The words landed quiet but sharp. Her hands were trembling in her lap, barely visible through the fuzz of the projection.
"I'm done pretending that I don't know what I feel. I'm done waiting for perfect conditions. This is me letting my guard down. All the way."
He hadn't realized he'd stopped breathing until she paused. Watching him.
"And I hope. . ." Her voice dipped. "I hope you do too."
Gordon stared at her. His eyes burned.
He nodded.
"I do," he said, his voice rasping a little. "I do love you too, Marie."
"Are you sure?" she asked, voice barely a whisper.
He gave a soft huff. Almost a laugh.
"I'm coming home."