Planet Tierre

Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

A young woman in her mid twenties entered her car hurriedly. She knew she had to hurry back home to confirm what she had just discovered.

Her heart thrummed with both excitement and nervousness.

Can she finally reunite with her? She worked for seven years. And for seven years she searched.

She searched for that one person, but to no avail.

Until now.

She ran pass her front door, not bothering to close it anymore. She sprinted to the hidden stairs behind a faux refrigerator door. This staircase will lead to the basement where she had all of her 'work'.

Panting, she threw all things that was on her table and laid a single sheet of paper on it. This paper contained the most recent satellite image of the galaxy 08729. Her heart skipped a beat when she read what was written in the description.

Galaxy 087229, discovered yesterday, 14 March 2026 by the African Druid 4 rover. The fourth galaxy from Earth and approximately 105 light years away. Inset: Planet 5780QZ; the largest planet on Galaxy 087229.

A tear escaped from her eyes. She can't be wrong. On this planet lives the one who stole her heart. The one who she hurt the most.

It's been so long, Aimee... Come back to me.

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We were in bed, naked, with the lights turned off and the lamp on. It gave the room a nice, romantic glow. I was in her arms, resting my head on her chest, running my fingers through her soft skin and listening to the acoustics of her heart. Her heartbeat is enchanting. Like some pleasant music that calms my troubled soul.

I suddenly found myself wanting to say something to Aimee.

"Aimee?"

"Yes?"

I thought of something to say. Then, a random question popped up in my mind.

"Would you promise me one thing?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Never, ever leave my side," After a moment, I added "Even if I tell you to."

She chuckled. "That's going to be hard."

"Promise me!" I whined.

"Okay, okay!" Then, she pulled me closer to her; if that's even possible. "Promise me one thing too."

"What?"

"Promise me that you'll never forget me. And that I'll always have a special place in your heart."

I hastily lifted my head and looked at her. "Why are you saying that?" She didn't meet my probing gaze and just closed her eyes.

"You better answer me Aimee or I swear to God..."

She cracked a smile. "Go ahead. You hit like a girl anyways." I was about to argue when she continued, "I mean a wimpy girl."

I frowned. "I'll throw all the bacon in the garbage."

"We'll you see," she started while I let out a little victorious grin. "What if we, by any chance, get separated from each other? I want you to keep your promise."

My smile fell and was replaced by a frown. I slapped her forearm.

"Ouch!" She rubbed the sore spot. "That hurt."

"How about we make a deal? I'll keep my promise if you keep yours."

"Deal."

Then, she sealed it with a kiss.

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Only then did she finally hear her phone ringing. Wiping her tears away and clearing her throat, she answered the phone with her most normal voice.

"This is Luna Simons speaking," she barely let out.

"Dr. Simons, I'm calling to check if you're okay. You seemed upset when you left earlier."

She recognized the voice of her mentor and senior Physicist Dr. Phillip Youngbuster.

"I'm fine, Dr. Young," she smiled weakly. He was always such a worrywart. "I was just feeling a bit under the weather so I had to leave for home."

"Are you sure this had nothing to do with what we had discovered yesterday?"

She swallowed a lump that had just formed in her throat. "Y-yeah. It's just coincidence."

He sighed. "I remember the very first day of your internship," he recalled, "You were shy and timid but I could sense the determination in your eyes. And when all you and the other trainees started to work, I saw the fierceness."

She softly chuckled, "You senile old man. How many times have you told me that story?"

"I know. But you just make me proud. You have worked so hard; harder than anyone I ever known. It made me wonder what pushed you; what motivated you to work as hard as you did," he said, "And when we both saw Galaxy*******,** knew it had something to do with our newest discovery."

She sighed. "Dr. Young..."

"Luna," he interrupted, "Whatever you're experiencing, know that you can always ask for my help. Me, and the other hundred scientists that had grown to love you in the short period of time that you've been with us."

She couldn't help but tear up. "Dr. Young, you're making me cry."

He laughed softly. "Now, don't bawl on me now child. I just wanted to assure you that you can count on us. On our team."

"Yes. Thank you doctor. And I promise, I'll call you when I need your help." She bid him farewell and ended the call.

I promise...

Her eyes caught glimpse of a certain old paper that was pinned on her corkboard. Her heart clenched in the now familiar pain as she, for the thousand time, read the message on the paper...

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Dear Luna,

What's meant to be will always find a way. I deeply believe that.

I love you. And this will hurt us both, but it is the right thing to do. This had always been the right thing to do right from the start.

I decided to write this letter because even though it deeply pains me, I must let you go. Even though you now smile and tell me you're okay, inside, you're crying and pleading. You secretly want to go home, even though you said yes to me.

And I am guilty. Guilty that I separated from your loved ones. I love your parents like my own and although it hurts me, you're happy with Shannon. I just can't compete with someone whom your heart beats for.

Remember that night when we were arguing about the movie we saw? When the male lead left because he was letting his love go?

Now I know why. I truly know why.

True love is about letting go, even if your heart wants to hold on.*

Just know that your presence simply feels like the first day of spring on Earth and you make me feel overjoyed and strangely content.

I thought of this decision for a while and as I write this letter, my heart weeps in excruciating pain. It makes me want to die already.

Still, I hope you will remember me. I hope I'll still be in your deepest memories, for you will be in mine. I will treasure each second that I spent with you. I will remember you. Forever.

'Til we see each other again.

Love,

Aimee

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When will I see you again, Aimee?

The stress of the past few years finally caught up with her. She wearily marched towards her bedroom and fell right on her bed; falling asleep as her head hit the pillows.

She must have slept longer than she initially planned, for when she awoke, she heard her stomach rumbling, demanding for something to be churned. Her back was also sore for she awoke in the same position she slept in. What kind of irritated her was the incessant ringing of the doorbell. It was annoying, really.

She arose from her bed and went out of her bedroom to get the door. Someone's a little impatient, she noticed. Finally, she opened the door and found no one standing there.

Oh those pesky neighborhood kids!

The family that lived next door had two children who Luna didn't like at all. They were noisy, rude, and most of all? Naughty.

She was about to close the door when she heard someone clear their throat. The sound came from-

"Hi, I'm Lania," a small, smiling girl with haunting emerald green eyes said.

"And I am your daughter."

And that was the last thing she remembered before fainting.

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