Page 56 of Swipe Right for Stardust

I turned to Vanessa, reluctant to let go of her hand. “I guess this is where we part ways for now.”

She squeezed my fingers. “I’ll see you soon, right?”

“Of course,” I assured her, though uncertainty gnawed at me.

As Vanessa disappeared down the opposite hallway, an emptiness settled in my core. We hadn’t been apart for days. The sudden separation left me unbalanced.

I followed the assistant to my assigned quarters, barely registering the sleek furnishings as the door slid shut behind me. The room adjusted to my physiological needs - temperature dropping, lighting dimming to a comfortable level.

It should have felt welcoming. Instead, I ached for the challenges we’d faced on Nexus Prime. At least there, I’d had Vanessa by my side.

The shower beckoned, multiple jets promising relief for my aching muscles. I stepped under the spray, letting the hot water pound against my skin. As steam filled the room, my mind drifted.

I wondered how Vanessa was faring. Was she also struggling with our separation? Or had the return to familiar surroundings broken the spell of our time together?

Doubts crept in as I toweled off and dressed in the provided clothing. What if she regretted everything that had happened between us? What if, away from the intensity of the challenges, she realized we had nothing in common?

I caught my reflection in the mirror, hardly recognizing myself. My usually composed features were pinched with worry. This wasn’t like me at all.

I missed her. Her laughter, her terrible jokes, the way her eyes lit up when she solved a puzzle. Even the exasperated sighs she made when I went off on scientific tangents.

A chime sounded, signaling it was time to rejoin the group. I squared my shoulders, determined to face whatever came next.

But as I stepped into the hallway, one thought consumed me:

I needed to see Vanessa again.

I exited my quarters, the door sliding shut behind me with a soft hiss. The curved corridors of the residential area stretched before me, their sleek surfaces gleaming under the soft ambient lighting. My footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as I began to wander, no real destination in mind.

As I rounded a corner, I came across Jake and Silla. Jake leaned against the wall, his face pale and drawn. Silla hovered nearby, her alien features etched with concern.

“How are you holding up?” I asked, pausing beside them.

Jake managed a weak smile. “Been better, doc. That ice really did a number on my leg.”

Silla placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “The medical staff say he’ll make a full recovery, but it will take time.”

I nodded, a pang of guilt twisting in my gut. If we’d reached them sooner...

“Thank you again,” Jake said. “If you and Vanessa hadn’t shown up when you did...”

He trailed off, and I forced a reassuring smile. “No need for thanks. I’m just glad you’re both safe.”

As I continued down the corridor, I passed more contestants, each in various states of post-race recovery. Rachel nursed a steaming cup of something that smelled vaguely medicinal, while Ethan sprawled on a bench, ice packs strapped to both knees.

My gaze darted from face to face, searching for auburn hair and a mischievous smile. But Vanessa was nowhere to be seen.

The corridor opened up into a wider area. Stars stretched out before me, infinite and beautiful through the vast windows of the observation deck. Yet as I gazed at the cosmic tapestry, I could only compare it to the wonders Vanessa and I had faced together on Nexus Prime.

Somehow, this view felt... less.

“I’m telling you, something wasn’t right about that ice shelf collapse.”

The hushed words caught my attention, and I turned slightly, careful not to appear as though I was eavesdropping.

Two crew members stood nearby, their heads bent close together in conspiratorial whispers.

“What are you saying?” the second one asked, doubt clear in his tone.

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