The forest soughed. Wind boomed through the canyon. “I stayed on Terra, Dominic, because of hoping you and I would meet again.”
“I spent the whole time hoping I’d hear those words,” he replied.
When the kiss had ended, he said to her: “Let’s be honest with each other, always. We’re not a boy and girl in love. We’re both a little old, more than a little sad, and friends. But we make one crackling hell of a team. A pity if we disbanded. Would you like to continue?”
“I think I would,” she told him. “I certainly want to try. Thank you, dear friend.”
They walked on into the autumn.