TRIAL AND ERROR | short stories + snippets

Though Caleb is suspicious of the textures of the Orlexian vegetables, after a few nibbles of the various dishes, he vets them as delicious. He asks the strakkol about their studies and in return, he and Nicolás explain their own.

Zilša keeps offering them more food but eventually they reach a bursting point, and the end of their day together becomes unavoidable.

"Thanks for your help," Nicolás says, the first to start the goodbyes once they're all standing.

Zliša shakes her head. "No, thank you."

Caleb rotates the compact in his hand. He has never been good with farewells. The finality of this one is heavy in his stomach. He can't just wave his hand with a 'see you in a bit'.

"As you would say on Earth, godspeed." Aff, still wearing the pink cowboy hat, looks at him. "Right?"

Not once in his life has Caleb heard anyone say that outside of books or telly, but he nods. "That's right."

They share a final story, a final joke, a final goodbye. Then Caleb opens the compact and the portal opens. Somewhere at the very bottom of the mirror well, the mess of his bedroom waits.

Notes

If you have somehow discovered this story without knowing my other work, Nikki and Caleb are characters from my story Nikki & Joe, Casually. That is however, a contemporary romance and has nothing to do with space. I just wanted to put these characters on a space adventure for fun :p