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(Page 2 of 2) One with the Stars by Arash Sayedi
 (3 ratings)
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I don't know what to do with her, John. I keep cleaning and she keeps bringing in more," his wife said, "here, see for yourself." She then turned the camera around to reveal a small, golden-haired girl struggling with a frog on the kitchen floor, her muddy shoes leaving a trail behind her.
"The Petersons are coming over tonight, John. Pick up a bottle of wine on the way, will you? Why don't you bring some Champagne too? For us alone, after they leave tonight," she said with a wink as she blew a kiss towards the camera. She then reached forward and the screen went blank.
Long after the video ended, John did not realise he had just been floating there, staring at the blank screen until a low-battery-alert popped up on the monitor. He then closed the small computer and gently let it float away. John pushed aside a mess of documents on a desk in front of him to reveal a monitor on the surface. He chose Bio from a menu and checked a small gage for remaining oxygen. The meter read seven minutes.
He turned around and floated back towards the front of the cockpit. He slowly lowered himself into his seat and fastened a small belt just enough to hold him down. He then reached under his seat and pulled out a small, black box. He opened the container and took out a large revolver. From the same box he produced a single cartridge and placed it within a chamber in the revolver and threw the box aside, resting the gun on his lap.
A picture of his wife and kids in front of him diverted his attention; the frame was held down by a strip of Velcro above a mess of wires and keys. He reached forward and took the picture. He kissed all three of them and held the frame close to his chest, tears falling down his cheeks.
John then looked up at the infinite sky surrounding him. Magnificent clouds of red, orange and purple danced all around. Millions of stars dotted the scene and filled him with the same sense of wonder and awe he had clung to ever since he was a child.
He sighed deeply and smiled.
"So beautiful."
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