I squirmed in embarrassment viewing the private moments of the courtship that was no damn business of anyone’s but the two participants, but the security cameras were all-seeing. Eventually the footage showed the Viewing Deck at a late evening hour, deserted except for Stella and the young Admiral-to-be on his knees holding a small black box out to her.
In the box were two dark rings that aroused my curiosity because they weren’t the usual gold or silver bands.
Then I could hardly bare to watch as she accepted his proposal and they kissed joyfully. I found it heartbreaking because I knew that this short time was all they would have together. No happy future existed for them as a couple and he would return to Earth alone, unfulfilled and with a raging hate burning within him for all to se
