The Future in Our Stars

Prologue“I was raised by my maternal grandparents, after my mother proved she wasn’t up to the task by bleeding out all over their guestroom bed. It was just minutes after I took my first breath. They never blamed me for her death. Grandmother’s ire was reserved solely for the robotic midwife in attendance that day. She always had a hatred for robots and the men who got rich manufacturing them. Her daughter’s death only served to solidify her attitude. Grandfather used to say that it was those rich men and their private space corporations that were going to send humanity to the stars and save us all.” I shifted on the tempur foam until I was lying on my side and sighed. “Why am I telling you this anyway?” “Because you love me?” I put on a smile, and wiped the tear from the corner of my eye. “Yes, I suppose I do.” * * *