Calm in the Midst of the Storm

Continued from “Nowhere Is Safe“
~~~Somewhere deep inside her chest, President Caitlin felt the pang of an emotion she could not entirely comprehend.

She sat huddled in the corner of a dank dark cargo ship headed for the Jovian moon Io, stowed away incognito among numerous people too poor to afford regular transportation.

Jack stood watch nearby. Haylea leaned against Caitlin, overcome by exhaustion. In that moment, Haylea wasn’t Caitlin’s rival, not even the Viceroy of Venus; she was simply Caitlin’s older sister. Haylea’s steady breath gradually lulled Caitlin to sleep herself.

In the moments before she fell asleep, Caitlin realized what she was feeling. Peace.