Sebastian walks through golden hallways. He has been anticipating this moment all day.
Another night with Anisa.
He has already texted her that he has arrived.
As soon as he approaches her apartment door, it slides open.
Anisa happily hops outside, sharing in the anticipation.
They sit together on the balcony.
Side by side like their two glasses of wine.
The wine bottle gradually empties over the course of their conversation.
One down, onto the next.
Sebastian and Anisa talk for hours.
Just talk.
Their shared company and conversation are enough to fill Sebastian’s world.
These nights are everything.
The stars shine brightly in the sky above them.
It’s a warm windless evening.
The artificial atmosphere of Mare Crisium is tuned finely tonight.
Earth floats above in tranquil silence, its aurora fills the night sky with bright pale violet light.
It’s the Shimmer; an atmospheric aurora created by sunlight reflecting off the glass sands of the Iridescence.
Anisa asks about Sebastian’s day.
He tells her about the Pillar.
The kitchen.
The energy.
The teamwork.
He excludes the stress.
"Your job sounds so cute." She says.
Sebastian asks Anisa about her day.
She tells him about the company. About Serifm.
About the long meetings.
About the competitive audits.
She excitedly tells him about the long lineup of business trips she has for the upcoming year.
About how she’ll be leaving for a short business trip to Earth in a month.
Sebastian has never been to Earth.
Anisa gets that look in her eyes. That look she always gets when Earth comes up in conversation.
"Oh… I have to take you sometime! We should plan a trip!" Anisa says excitedly.
"That could be fun." Sebastian responds.
They search through a few traveling sites, formulating the perfect hypothetical vacation to Earth.
They decide on a trip to the Iridescence.
"It's so beautiful! The glass desert is like nothing you’ve ever seen before!" Anisa giggles.
Sebastian has to see it.
"It will change your life!" She promises.
These nights were everything.