Location: Ellinwood Park, Virek
Date and Time: May 18, 2553 – 1830 Hours
I stand near the entrance to Ellinwood Park, the sound of distant birds and the occasional breeze making it feel like a whole different world from the base. The park is quiet, with only a few people wandering the paths lined by trees and flowers. For once, everything feels… normal.
It's a nice change.
I see Emily pull up in her Kruz Olise Sedan, a sleek, simple vehicle that stands out in the town's rural surroundings. She parks by the curb, and when she steps out, I can't help but feel a little out of place in my fatigues. She's in civilian clothes—a simple jacket and jeans—but she looks more relaxed, more herself.
"Hey, Tom," she says with a smile as she approaches, using my first name for the first time. It catches me off guard, but it feels… right. I smile back, feeling a bit of the tension ease.
"Hey, Emily," I reply, my voice lighter than usual. "Nice car."
She laughs softly. "Yeah, it gets me where I need to go. You ready for the grand tour of the town?"
I nod, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. "Lead the way."
We start walking through the park, the air cool and fresh. The town around us is quiet but alive with the sounds of everyday life—people laughing in the distance, the rustling of leaves, the distant hum of traffic. It feels worlds away from the chaos of the war.
As we walk, Emily talks about growing up in Virek, about how the town used to be busier before the war but still holds onto its charm. She points out little things—old houses, hidden spots in the park, places she used to go when she was younger.
"You've lived here your whole life?" I ask, genuinely curious. I'd known she was local, but I hadn't realized just how deeply rooted she was here.
"Yeah," she says, glancing at me. "Born and raised. I always thought I'd leave one day, maybe see more of the galaxy. But… life had other plans."
There's a hint of sadness in her voice, and I can tell that staying here through the war has been hard on her. Still, she doesn't dwell on it. She quickly shifts the conversation to lighter topics, asking about my time in the Marines, about where I'm from. The conversation flows easily, the tension from earlier slowly melting away.
After the walk, Emily suggests we head to a local café—a small, cozy spot she says is her favorite. It's tucked away on a side street, far from the more crowded areas of town. When we step inside, the warmth and smell of fresh coffee hit me, and it's like the weight of the world lifts off my shoulders for a moment.
We sit at a small table by the window, the light from the setting sun casting a soft glow over everything. We talk more—about our lives, our families, the things we miss and the things we've come to accept.
At some point, the conversation shifts to more personal territory. Emily opens up about how hard it's been working at the hospital, seeing the toll the war has taken on her people. There's a sadness in her eyes as she talks about it, but there's also a strength that I hadn't fully appreciated before.
"You've been through a lot," I say quietly, watching her carefully. "More than most people could handle."
She shrugs, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We all have. But we get through it, right?"
Her words linger in the air, and for a moment, the playful banter fades into something deeper. There's a connection here, something real, something that feels like more than just a fleeting moment in the middle of the war.
After we finish at the café, we step outside, the air cooler now as the sun dips below the horizon. We walk back toward her car, the conversation still easy but with an underlying tension—something neither of us is saying but both of us can feel.
As we reach her Kruz Olise, Emily turns to me, her smile warm but with a glint of something more in her eyes.
"This was really nice, Tom," she says softly, using my first name again. "I'm glad we did this."
I can feel my heart racing as I stand there, my mind scrambling to think of something to say. The nervous energy is back, but this time it's different. This time, it feels like there's more at stake—like this moment could be the start of something real, something important.
I fake confidence, just like I've done a hundred times in the field. "Yeah, me too. I'm glad you suggested it."
There's a brief pause, and for a second, I hesitate. I can feel the tension in the air between us, and I know what I want to do. But the nerves, the uncertainty—it all feels like too much.
But then I take a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. "I… uh, I've been wanting to do this for a while."
Before I can second-guess myself, I lean in and press my lips to hers. For a heartbeat, I worry that I've misread the moment, but then she kisses me back, her arms wrapping around my shoulders.
The kiss is soft at first, but there's a sweetness to it that catches me off guard—the taste of something sweet lingering on her tongue as she deepens the kiss. It's like everything else fades away, the world around us disappearing for just a moment.
When we finally pull apart, both of us a little breathless, she smiles at me, her eyes bright and warm.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" she teases softly.
I chuckle, my nerves still buzzing but with a sense of relief now. "No… not at all."
As we stand there, the cool night settling around us, I realize how much this moment means. It's more than just a kiss. It's more than just a date. It's a chance at something real, something worth fighting for in the middle of all the chaos.
"I'll see you soon, Tom," Emily says with a smile as she opens the door to her car.
I nod, still feeling the warmth of her lips on mine. "Yeah. See you soon."
As she drives away, I can't help but smile. For the first time in a long time, I feel like there's something to look forward to. Something that's just for me.