[ To be honest, she could have a body as thin as a rail or thick and strong as a house and it would still be soothing. It's not just the physical aspect of her that he's absorbing, but the lyrical, the spiritual, the aroma even. It's been so long since he's been able to bask in her presence without her trying to harm him.... He'd almost forgotten what it was like. ]

A rebirth, is it? [ and on the moon, no less... ] ... Sounds like a fairytale.

[ He's not sure what to make of that, though there is a soft, sort of wistful quality to his voice. Rebirth in theory should mean new chances, wiping the slate clean. In practice, it's only been a new way to fail. The idea of having to start over again... is exhausting.

But he doesn't want to be discouraging. One of them should be hopeful. And if she says it--then maybe it can even be true. ]

I suppose after all this time I might be overdue. What should I become?