Chapter 1 — Been There, Done That

  (The year is 16,458)

  An old farmhouse sits alone amid endless fields of wheat. The air hums with heat, the slow creak of metal baking in the sun. Somewhere unseen, a violin plays—soft, nostalgic, almost human.

  On the porch, an old dog lies panting. The swing rocks gently, its rhythm matching the sigh of the wind. Arthur and Sarah sit together, her head resting lightly on his shoulder, a book open in her lap.

  “What are you reading now?” he asks.

  Sarah looks up, serious. “Just some old medical journals.”

  He tilts his head, smiling. “Which ones?”

  “The ones from when you went to medical school.”

  He chuckles. “What for? That was three thousand years ago.” His eyes meet hers. “Not sure how helpful those will be.”

  A faint hurt crosses her face—gone almost as soon as it appears.

  “The human body hasn’t changed that much.” Then she softens. “Maybe you should go back. Get another degree.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Arthur exhales, amused. He recognizes the familiar tone—the itch she gets when she’s restless.

  “What are you thinking?”

  She stands and stretches, hands pressing into her lower back. “Maybe molecular biology.”

  He fiddles with his fingers before answering. “I could probably get my doctorate in under a year.” A smirk tugs at his lips. “I know most of it already. Could probably just take the test.”

  He studies her for a long moment. “What’s bringing this up?”

  “Nothing really.” She shrugs. “I’m just bored. Thought we could learn something new together.”

  He grins, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “I love how you always want to learn new things.”

  A spark lights behind his eyes. “What about an instrument?”

  Her gaze drops in mock disappointment before she smirks. “We can already play everything.” She tilts her head, pretending to think. “I doubt there’s one left we haven’t tried.”

  Arthur frowns—she’s right. Then inspiration strikes.

  “Okay… I’ve got it.” He leans in, stealing a kiss. “We could go homestead with one of those new colony groups for a while. Learn the flora, fauna, local wildlife—that’s always fun.”

  Sarah’s smile widens, eyes bright. “Maybe pick up a new language too.”

  She steps back, already energized. “Wanna join me for a run?”

  Arthur rises. The porch shimmers—then dissolves into white. Bookshelves climb from the ground like living trees. A thin layer of water ripples beneath their feet.

  ---

  Sarah’s jeans and blouse shift into jogging shorts and a T-shirt that reads:

  MY EYES ARE UP HERE.

  She glances back, teasing. “You gonna run with me or what?”

  Arthur’s clothes morph as well. “Maybe for a minute,” he says, already hedging. “I’ve got a few things to do around the apartment.”

  They jog through endless aisles of shelves stretching into light.

  Moments later, Arthur bends over, hands on his knees, gasping.

  “I’m dying.” He squints up at her. “Are you trying to kill me?”

  Sarah laughs. “Baby!” She leans in and whispers, “I have a surprise for you tonight.”

  Arthur straightens, pulls her in, and kisses her deeply.

  His smile warms her heart. “I can’t wait,” he says, kissing her again. “Love you.”

  A shrill RING slices through the Void—distant, but sharp.

  Sarah startles. “I wonder who that is.”

  Arthur vanishes.

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