“You ready to talk about it?” Ensign Samantha Soojin sat in the armchair opposite Lieutenant Sadie Fowler.

Sadie replied, “I don’t know.” She sat on the edge of the wide couch, her hands grasping at her knees. It was Christmas morning, and the feelings of the last two months lay heavy on her heart. “I’m thankful to be alive, which is the first thing. The Sisters taught me to be thankful, always.” She had grown up as an orphan under the watchful eyes of the Sisters of Mercy in New Haven, Connecticut. Fowler had been given an incredible education, but she’d also been trained in ways to live that still stuck with her. She reflected on her disconnection from Vocast. “It hurt so much for so long.”

Sam held the silence for a few minutes before asking, “How has that been going? I know you’ve been working on making connections with the rest of the senior staff.”

“Lizzy’s been the most successful.” Lieutenant Elizabeth McKee was the Gagarin’s Chief Engineer. Fowler had sat down for a few meals with her early on in her recovery. It had been awkward at first, but she’d been thankful for McKee’s patience in walking with her through the unknown as she worked to find herself again. “She’s been through some of the same…stuff.”

There was another stretch of quiet before the chief counselor asked, “And what about…the other thing?” She noted that the chief science officer tensed slightly on the couch before relaxing.

“That’s…I don’t know what to feel. I mean, I know what I’m supposed to feel. I have a brother.” They had all met on Montana Station – Geraldine the El Aurien and the rest of the orphans who had been hunted for their perfection. Fleet Captain Fontana had opened quarters for them, allowing them to stay as long as needed. “Our parents fought so hard to protect us…and why. They loved us enough to find ways to keep us safe from…her and whatever else was hunting us.”

Sam circled back to where Sadie had started, “What are you supposed to feel, Sadie?”

“I’m supposed to be happy to have a brother – a blood relative. I’ve been an orphan my whole life…and now I have someone that looks like me. That’s supposed to be the best thing in the universe…but I still feel empty.”

Sam made some notes on her PADD, “How does that emptiness feel?”

Sadie opened her mouth to reply and closed it again. It was a unique feeling that was hard to assign a specific emotion. She tried again, “It’s…like an ache..like a hunger that’s gone on too long, and it’s starting to hurt.” Feeling her heart climbing into her throat, she swallowed hard. “We’ve been sending messages back and forth since we met on the station. Sharing our stories. He’s five years older than me. A foster family in New York adopted him, and they helped him discover his passion – medicine. He’s thinking of joining up with the hospital on Montana Station.” She released the grip on her knees and smoothed out her uniform pants slowly, “I don’t know if he is doing it because I’m nearby or if he’s doing it because he wants to practice medicine in the rimward.”

Sam leaned forward from her chair. “What if it’s both?” She noted the surprised look in the woman’s eyes. “What if this is where he’s meant to be for a while? You said he’s a pretty good doctor.”

Fowler stared at the carpet, her eyes going distant as she recalled, “He’s said he likes it out here…always felt out of place at Earth and the inner rim.” She didn’t speak for a few more minutes before she shifted her eyes back up to meet her counselor’s gaze. “Having him close would help us get to know each other, grow the connection…even make some memories.” Sadie felt some of the weight lifting off her shoulders.

Sam noticed it as well. She asked, “Did this help?”

“It did…thank you, Ensign Soojin.”

Sam smiled warmly. “In here, it’s always Sam.” Glancing at her PADD, she said, “Let’s meet tomorrow after your shift. I think we’re getting closer to decreasing the frequency of our conversations.”

“You think so?” Sadie’s face echoed the shock in her voice. Was she making progress?

“With time comes progress, Sadie. You’re doing well…one day at a time.” Fowler stood, thanked Sam, and left. Soojin tapped at her notes. She reminded herself of her mantra – progress was progress, and hope remained eternal.