I’d never been nude in front of a group that included my wife. With a pounding in my chest, I decided to go for it. I kicked off my sandals, dropped...my shorts and took off my shirt. Despite all that had happened, I was pretty limp. I started the music playing again and stepped back up into the cockpit. On deck, it felt cool and hot at the same time which is something I like about being naked on a boat. I sat down on the top of the starboard bench top. The girls were up near the bow on the port. Margie also came over and hugged him from the other side and I made sure the machines didn’t fall off, lose vacuum while they consoled.They held him until he was able to stop crying and they both kissed him and he seemed surprised. They let him go and he stood as he said, “And my wife left me as well. I think I’ve been a terrible person for too long and the stress of this place got to me. I’m very sorry, truly. And now that you are here I’m so amazed. I never expected to see anybody again and I. .. 'Exterior scanner seventy three was located one third of the way back from Skryben's bow, covering about a ninety degree arc at right angles to her long axis. It showed nothing nearby, only the faint dustings of star clusters fading off into emptiness.'... rotate clockwise, once per minute, one complete turn... 'The clusters streamed slowly past, right to left, painting themselves on the bridge's screens. The great wheel of Mother Galaxy edged into view, looking no different than it ever. "Touch me," I said, in a tone somewhere between asking, pleading, and commanding. Her hands came up to mirror mine, resting on my narrow waist just above my hipbones.I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and stood on tiptoes to kiss her gently on the corner of her mouth. When I came back down, her head dropped as her lips tried to keep the contact. I tucked the wayward strand behind her ear, running my fingers through her hair as it passed around to the back of her head. I brushed her.