Outside the porthole, the stars twinkle a welcome back . They have emerged from hyperspace 2.8 million light years away from Waystation-1, heading directly towards the colony where their destination waits in stationary orbit. Two more jumps through hyperspace and they will get to the mothership where they will dock for a Standard week, and then start on the return voyage. The shuttle is silent. They are used to it. The silence makes it easier for them to take note of minor pr

Sometimes coffee is just coffee. Sometimes it is more. The kids call it a situationship nowadays. Back in my time, what I called him was Not My Boyfriend, with the implication that he would be in the future. My mutual friends understood that he and I were close to each other in a way that transcended mere friendship or flirtation. He was my person - we talked daily, whether in person, on the phone, or via instant messaging (ah, those were the days). We were not dating because