"I had heard stories. Is that where you earned your medal?" Yes," Captain Werfel replied."Enough!" Governor Johanes roared. "I am busy and do not have...time to waste listening to the two of you reminisce about a battle we lost. Now explain this idea of shore leaves to me. I thought you would be staying on your ships."Captain Johnston laughed. "You must have been based on a planet. Governor, we are on combat ships. These ships are designed for combat, not comfort. The officers get small. Yeh dekh kar uski aaknhen khuli reh gayi. Wo gehri soch mein pad gayi aaur 1-2 min baad boli 7-8 din pehle mera period tha, abhi pregnant ho gayi t? Yeh sun ke mujhe aisa laga jese kisine mujhe aakbar ka taj pehna diya ho. Main hass pada aur bola chinta mat karo main ek i-pill la dunga usse kha lena kuch nahi hoga. Main bed par phirse beth gaya aur jor se minu ko gale lagane laga, wo bhi mera sath dena suru kar di. Fir main dhire dhire uske blouse ka button khol ne laga ek ke baad ek sare. Finally, slamming into the other shore. Skin tears, bones shatter. Pain, white hot pain. Tears fall, wings laying on the ground, broken. Blood spilling, the water becomes red. Looking down, the boy. Safe, alive. Unable to move, pinned down. Something, everything, hurts. But more, coughing, blood pouring. Feeling, a pipe. Small thin, piercing through. Understanding, its over. Life of a child, for the life of his savior. Eyes growing heavy, darkness over whelming. Fighting, wishing, to see her. I made sure to grab the wine and a corkscrew; you never know what a neighbor might not have. All set, I made my way out the door and the few feet to her front door. I knocked.I didn’t have to wait long for Liz to come to the door. As always, she looked stunning. She was wearing minimal make-up, just enough to make her eyes “pop.” She wore a hippy-style blouse over a pair of jeans. Good, because I had decided not to get too fancy. Sure, I was wearing a button down, but I was glad I.