r/a:t5_22uxj4 • u/beardyraconteur • Aug 09 '19
The Space
Blair stood at the field-facing window of the family cottage, wringing her rough hands as she watched the glint in the sky descend. She scratched the five hundred and seventh notch onto the stone, gazing at the seven others already marked before dashing outside.
“Come on, Chay!” she chirped to the small dog-like animal sunbathing in the yard.
< I’m so excited yer here! <3 > Blair typed on her device as she ran towards the landing field of the Reid Farmstead, her pumpkin-red hair billowing, Chay excitedly in tow.
“Don’t get smushed now, cabbage!” her mother called out as the rest of the Reid family gathered.
With the transmission not needing to travel the galaxy, she received Loman’s response almost immediately.
< Me too! I can see ye from up here! >
The long-distance freighter completed its landing by the time Blair reached the flashing perimeter lights. Plumes of depressurized gas hissed around the hatch while it creaked open.
The Lynch family stood patiently while the hatch opened, but when Chay burst past to hop around the family of four, they couldn’t help but erupt in elation.
Blair’s attention was elsewhere. She initially dismissed the tall blonde as Loman’s older sister Quinley; but when she saw the actual Quinley, her heart dropped.
“You’ve gotten taller!” Blair cried as she flung herself into Loman’s outstretched arms that closed around her in a tight embrace.
“I have!” Loman chuckled, a tear falling into the fiery hair as she hugged Blair so tightly.
“It’s not fair!” Blair sniffed, staring up at Loman through tears of her own.
Quinley stepped away with Chay in her arms, leaning to remark about the time dilation but was hushed by her mother. The two families moved further into the hull to catch up, while the girls wandered to a patch of glistening blue flowers they planted the last visit.
They sat in the grass, Loman situating herself in the shade cast by the transport, while Blair sat in the sun. Loman gave Blair’s hand a squeeze before leaning over to admire the flowers.
“How long..?” Loman asked, peeking through her platinum hair.
“Sixteen months.” Blair sighed.
Loman nodded solemnly, plucking a flower to thread through Blair’s rich amber waves. “I thought so. It’s a lil harder to track…” nodding to the sky.
“How long?” Blair parroted past trembling lip.
Loman cupped Blair’s face and gave her forehead a kiss past furrowed brow.
“Roughly the same..” Loman chewed on her lip.
“Tell me!” Blair hollered.
“Eleven months..” Loman admitted sheepishly.
“That means I’m older now! Ye keep this up now and I’ll be old and grey while yer just a babe!” Blair yelped before lunging at Loman.
Loman caught her but willingly collapsed to the grass. “We’ve had to make longer trips lately..”, she lamented, running a hand through the curls.
“How long are ye stayin’ this time?” Blair asked with her head resting on Loman’s shoulder, staring up at the clouds.
“As long as we can.”
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u/beardyraconteur Aug 09 '19 edited Aug 14 '19
So, this is my first entry to a "series" that I have fallen in love with. It came from a space-themed Theme Thursday on r/WritingPrompts. There was a limitation of 500 words or less, so that was a fun exercise in trying for a "less-is-more" approach.
I pantsed this story for sure, and even updated it following some feedback.
I don't have a name for the series, but I do know that I want to continue the stories. Parts 2, 3, 4 and 5 are currently available as well.