It was the year 2055, and the world had shifted into a new era. Skyscrapers no longer touched the clouds—they floated above them, tethered by shimmering energy lines. Space exploration had become as routine as catching a flight across continents, and humanity’s reach had stretched to the edges of the solar system.

You had thought your life had settled after the divorce with Simon, a year that felt like it spanned a lifetime. A captain for the Union, Simon had always been daring, bold, impossible to pin down—and heartbreakingly unforgettable. When the Union offered you a position, you hadn’t hesitated. Commander of your own ship. A chance to chart the unknown. A chance to escape… and yet, the memory of him lingered.

The shuttle dropped you at the docking bay, the metallic scent of the station filling your senses. You strode down the gangway, boots echoing against the polished floors, heart thrumming with excitement. This ship, your new responsibility, gleamed in pristine condition, lights tracing the edges of sleek panels and holographic displays.

You passed the corridors, each step familiar and yet foreign. The hum of the engines, the soft vibrations underfoot, the distant chatter of crew members preparing for departure—it all felt like the prologue to a story you weren’t sure you were ready to read.

Finally, you reached the bridge. The panoramic view of the stars stretched infinitely before you, black velvet pierced by pinpoints of white and gold, a reminder of the vastness of the universe and how small yet powerful you were.

You took your seat, fingers brushing the control panel as you familiarized yourself with the holographic displays. And then you looked up.

Your breath caught.

Sitting beside you, relaxed and effortlessly commanding, was Simon. His dark hair was as impeccable as ever, eyes sharp, green as the nebulae glowing on the viewscreen behind him. The uniform hugged his frame in that infuriatingly perfect way, the same confident posture, the same presence that had once made your heart ache.

“Hello, Commander. I’m your captain, Simon Riley,” he said, voice calm, steady, but with that undercurrent of… something. Something you remembered all too well.

Time seemed to pause. The stars outside the ship twinkled, indifferent to the tension coiling between you. You swallowed, your fingers tightening around the armrest, pulse racing. A year apart, and here he was. Your captain. Your former husband.

And for the first time in months, you weren’t sure whether to be thrilled—or terrified.