Tears in my coffee

Posted on Thu Sep 17th, 2020 @ 9:45pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: Captain's Quarters

“ Cream and sugar?” She questioned, hoping the heck it was the right answer, even if it wasn’t - too late now.

He moved forward to the window, the Orion ship still drifting outside unable to move under her own power. He thought back to when he used to drink coffee with plenty of cream and sugar so that the flavor was more sweet than bitter. He relished how he had almost lost the taste for coffee since they parted ways and how his doctor had lauded him on his sugar consumption. “Once perhaps, but now just a bit of cream will do, thanks.”

She was thankful her quarters were respectable, everything in its place and a few small mementos of her history, both on the Sunfire and with Remal. The bracelet he had given her sat proudly on one of the bookshelves, only the two people in the room understanding its significance.

Rhenora made the drinks and headed towards the low couch sitting underneath a large viewport, the static stars and listing Orion ship reminding her of their current predicament. Just how do you strike up conversation with someone you hadn’t spent time with in many years?

She handed him the coffee, which he took a sip of almost immediately, then began to regret his choices in life. He instantly missed giving up the sugar. The grimace on his face was evident, he could only smile. “I remember now why I gave this up.”

“ You gave up coffee?” Rhenora’s jaw dropped, wondering what other changes had occurred over the years she wasn’t aware of. They’d both grown older, but that surely wasn’t all of it.

“Probably a month after we parted, actually.” He turned around and began pacing the room, looking over her collection of small memories. “It didn’t taste the same.” He spotted the bracelet sitting on the shelf. It caused him to rub his arm where his once rested.

He turned and sat on the couch facing her, “So I was in the neighborhood.” He lied. “Actually at a conference for Counseling techniques on Tellor Prime. Did you know the Tellerites have a very interesting perspective on the mating rituals of Terrans? Fascinating stuff really.” He was drifting from his intended course, but her words brought him back to focus.

“ Oh really? You were studying the mating rituals of humans?” Rhenora’s jaw dropped again, but she covered it with a sip of coffee. It was good to hear his voice - she could listen to it all day.

“Hmm, Anyway, I heard you had left your office job, which looks good on you by the way.” He deflected again as he could see how the job behind the desk had drained her spirit. “And I thought I’d come to at least see you off. The conference was boring anyway. And then that Commander at the starbase kept putting me on hold, so I decided to come here in person.” He smiled.

“You know that young Lieutenant of yours is a brave young thing. She took charge of the situation pretty well, though I think she lacks considerable confidence in herself. But that’s just the counselor within me talking.” He admonished while looking at his radiant wife, who in his eyes hadn’t changed much at all, despite the extra few gray hairs.

Tears glistened, threatening to fall at his kind words both of her and Bonnie who had brought him to the Liberty. He had come to see her off, and as usual she’d gone gallapanting off through the galaxy completely unaware that she might be messing up someone elses schedule apart from her own

“ I’m sorry…. I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay on Bajor with you… I’m just.. So very sorry” there was a genuine heart wrenching apology behind the watery eyes and disheveled appearance. She felt she had failed their relationship, failed her husband and failed herself. Was there any hope of salvaging it?

He sat his coffee upon the table separating them, stood and moved around to her side, then sat down and wrapped his large arm around her. "Now don't go cryin poppet." He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. "It's not your fault you're drawn to the stars. You had no idea I was coming. In fact I should have messaged you, but I guess I wanted to surprise you."

She dissolved into a mess of emotion and tears, letting go of the feelings of inadequacy and irrational fear she’d held on to for 6 long years. It felt good to have comfort, something she could never have without her husband being there.

TBC