Time and Distance

"November one niner seven seven t, please contact North Atlantic, on 13297. Have a good day."

"Departure, contacting North Atlantic, on 13297. Thank you for your service today. November one niner seven seven t."

"North Atlantic. November one niner seven seven t requesting route following to London. November one niner seven seven t."

"November one niner seven seven t, We have you on contact. Climb to and maintain flight level 335. Let us know of any pilot advisories. North Atlantic."

"Climb to and maintain flight level 335. Willco pilot advisories. November one niner seven seven t." Steven took his headset off and switched the coms to the speakers to listen for any request from the en route controllers or other pilots. It is usually very quiet across the Atlantic. It would take him just a little over 6 hours what it took Lindbergh over 33. Steven let himself imagine that solo journey and what it would have been like to be so tired that he would need to try to fly close enough to the water to get the mist off of the waves to wake him up. Steven was disrupted from his thought as the auto pilot leveled the plane off at the requested altitude. Giving a quick glance at all of his instruments and finding everything looked good, Steven headed back to the galley. He was starting to feel the need for the food that was not eaten before he accidently wrapped Jacqueline in his arms. He found a protein bar and a bottle of water and headed back to the cockpit. Where he could look out over the ocean. The cresting waves 30 thousand feet below him were lit up by the full moon that was in front of him. The moon looked like it was closer than the waves. The view never got old. As the pain of hunger subsided the pain of the day came back.

Steven remembered watching Sam walk away barefoot as the door closed behind her. What man would let her walk away like that? Steven knew that Sam was smart and resourceful but he had no idea how she would get along. He did give her his credit card as she left. She had nothing with her except for Jacqueline's borrowed clothes. Giving her his card, he knew she would have what she needed. Plus, every time she used the card he could track where she was.

Steven leaned back and let his mind wander. His mind settled into their trip to Iceland. Steven's stomach tightened as he remembered running his finger up the inside of Sam's leg. He could feel himself swell with the memory of feeling her thrust against him until she climaxed. He remembered the feeling of her resting on his chest as the pulses of the passion washed out of their bodies. The feelings of confusion came next as he remembered seeing Sam lying there in her comatose state as he discovered the truth. The anger came back as the facts of the truth were learned. The confusion of being in the room with two women that looked liked the one he loved. The embarrassment of wrapping his arm around Jacqueline and starting to make love to her when he thought it was Sam. The look in Sam's eyes...there was no feeling that he could find to describe how he felt when he saw her face.

How could a relationship with Sam work? The normal expectations of society don't teach how a relationship with a robot works. It does not matter now. Sam is gone. What if she never uses the credit card? What if she never comes back?

Steven watched out the window with nothing for reference to how fast he was traveling. The moon. The waves. The stars. The darkness. Nothing gave Steven a reference to let him know that he was traveling near 600 miles an hour. The moon seemed frozen in the dark sky with pinpoints of light surrounding it.

Lost to time with the growing distance, Steven let his mind drift back to the adventures he shared with Sam. She pushed him to be more reflective of himself. She pushed him to be more curious about himself. She really was a wonderful being. Steven hoped that there were more adventures in his and Sam's future. He hoped she would find what she was looking for. He hoped he would find what he was looking for.

Steven snapped back to the present with the voice over the speaker. "November one niner seven seven t, contact Heathrow deliver on 121.975. Goodnight. North Atlantic."

"Contacting Heathrow delivery on 121.975. Have a good night. November one niner seven seven t."