Chapter 45 / 51 · 1 min

Long Distance, Then?

The Mycoplasma bacterium looked very worried.

“I think our host is taking pneumonia medication. We probably won’t survive much longer.”

The other bacterium, sitting quietly across from it, said, “Hmm. I also think so…”

“If I die, then maybe I’ll never get the chance to tell you. These last two weeks I spent with you, I’ll never forget them.”

The bacterium across from it started to say something, then stopped. It just stared, quietly.

Exactly the way Sabbir was sitting in Crimson Cup, staring quietly at Neera.

Neera said, “The Crimson Cup Mocha frozen isn’t available. They say they’re out of the ingredients. What kind of nonsense is that!”

Sabbir said, “You just recovered from pneumonia and now you want something cold? You were so sick these last two weeks. I thought I might never get to see you again.”

Neera tried to smile a little. “When’s your flight?”

“Day after tomorrow…”

“Long distance, then?…”

Sabbir said, “Canada isn’t that far. I’ll come back once every year. We’ll travel all over then.”

Neera said nothing. From the moment of this meeting onward, she would count every single day, waiting for this same day next year.

Exactly the way Earth was counting the days for Mars.

For four and a half billion years, Earth had waited for this day, every day. On this day it wanted to be a little more blue. In a little while, Mars would come very close to it, within an intimate thirty-eight million miles.

For four and a half billion years, they had met on this same day, every year. And still the same old nervousness, the same old excitement.

Earth waited for Mars, restless with longing.