“Look how far we’ve come.”

The cliche words are said, whilst I wildly waving and pointing with my free hand at the curved, smooth walls of the tunnel. In the other hand, I swing back and forth the child in between us, the voice of laughter following from the both of them breaking the silence.

The metallic walls are untainted, clean and tidy and an intense contrast against the garish sights we had to witness back in our homeworld, the one we’re leaving now. That thought passes and dredges up more, which lulls me to look over my shoulder, past my partner to behind us; the glimpse I got of his face told of joy unburdened. When I peer down, farther down the illuminated hall, I can’t help but continue to recall things, not in reverence but instead sorrow; the memories were mine alone and mine to keep, the idea of owning something seemed beyond me, so I clung on despite the thorns. I look forward again and in passing, see my partner’s face, a warm stare confirming that he had done, and was the opposite.

Before my mind continues to wander and my eyes go to a glaze, he lulls me back to the present moment with a brush of a hand. I immediately try to mimic the same expression he has, the hopeful one, and as he watches me do, so he smiles in return. That smile he has, wide, grinning, a tad naive, it makes the expression I’m mimicking genuine.

“We sure have.”