| Author | Message | ||
     Cmdr. J. Darek Smith |
SEPTEMBER 24, 2400, 2247 HOURS, LOCAL NEW BERLIN COLONY, LUNA, SECTOR 001 The silence was deep, and the darkness surrounded them. She rested her head on his bare chest, and he tried to smile. The big man looked down at the smaller woman - his wife - and tried to make out her form in the darkness. Her short ginger hair, now streaked with silver and white, felt soft between his fingers as he gently stroked her hair. If only it could always be this simple. "Darek." The voice was soft, gentle, with a slight Irish lilt to it. "Darek, I'm sorry." She looked up at him, her green eyes filled with sadness and remorse. He knew that she was truly sorry. But for what, he could not say. The darkness, it seemed, was often their only escape. And with their schedules keeping them apart for months at a time, it was starting to seem that the darkness was at that they had ata all. There was love still. Darek Smith was certain of that. At least, he was certain on his part. With all the time that he was spending away from her, he still sometimes wondered if she had taken a lover on the side. But, no, he trusted his wife, and he had never mentioned anything like that to her. If it had happened, she would have told him. Darek cocked his head to one side and looked down at his wife, her own nakedness covered by the blankets that were still wet from their lovemaking. It had been a while for both of them, and it had been wonerful to feel the passion between them again. "For what, Love?" Her pale skin was a drastic contrast to his deep, dark flesh. He was rough and rugged to her gentle softness. It was their contrasts - physical and otherwise - that had first drawn them together. Amanda Smith smiled sadly up at her husband. They had not fought tonight, which was a great mprovement. Often when they were together there was a great deal of shouting and crying. The neighbors sometimes complained, but often it was to Janet Wilson next door that Amanda ran when she and Darek were fighting. But not tonight. Darek almost wished that the neighbors would come complaining about the noice the next morning. "Darek, - " Amanda's voice trailed off, and she sat up, pulling the blanket more tightly about her. Curious and concerned, Darek rolled to fac her, propping himself up on one elbow and placing the opposite hand on her shoulder. "Baby, what's wrong?" She shook her head and started crying. ========= He shipped out to Stirling a little earlier than he had planned. He decided that he wanted to be as far away from her as possible for a while, to sort out his feelings. He still loved her, still wanted to work things out with her; but she was wanting to move on. She had already met someone, had promised to spend more time with him. Maybe even leave her husband. In many ways, he couldn't blame her. He was gone a lot. A hell of a lot. Maybe he should think about retiring. He had served more than twenty years. He could retire comfortably. Maybe after his tour on Stirling was over. ========== Christian D. Clem '01, aka "Aggie" Cmdr. J. Darek Smith, XO USS Coronado NCC-97901 |