12 A.M. and you still couldn’t sleep no matter how many times you tossed and turned or how long you tried to stare at the ceiling for. It was just going to be another sleepless night, you decided as you got up from your bed and left the sleeping quarters. You would always go out into the lounge area when you couldn’t sleep- you found the huge display screen somewhat relaxing, oddly enough. It was peaceful, quiet, and gave you time to shut off your brain and reminisce to yourself about your life back on Earth.

There would be no reminiscing this night, however, as you spotted another crew member sat on the couch, also staring at the night time screen. As you walked closer, you saw that it was Anya. It wasn’t surprising seeing her also up. You knew she struggled with sleeping, too, as you would sometimes see her out here late into the night.

“Hey. Couldn’t sleep?” You asked as you sat down next to her on the beige couch, your voice soft and exhausted.

“No, not really. Just kept tossing and turning.”

“Ah, I hear you. Guess we’re in the same boat.”

——

“You know, I actually like the night time window screen.” Anya said, her eyes not leaving the pixelated, manufactured scenery even as she spoke to you. “If you look really, really close, you can see there’s a dead pixel in the upper right corner.”