I’ve never been one for goodbyes when a “See you later” would suffice.

But when you know it’s a true goodbye…..

“Is she there?” Astronaut Ken Watson said in his headset. He was supposed to come home tomorrow after a 4 week mission on the International Space Station. When an emergency space walk forced Ken to fix a broken oxygen tank that was leaking.

“I’m here Ken,” Sandra said almost in tears.

“Baby, I’m…..I’m…..I love you so much,” Ken’s eyes watered.

“I love you too,” Sandra replied weeping.

The space station was slipping away from Ken’s vision. Attempts to recover him failed after his safety line was cut by space debris. Geoff Salva was sitting in the shuttle too far out of Ken’s reach. If he attempted to go after Ken, there would not be enough fuel to get the rest of Ken’s crew home.

Ken was drifiting away from earth into empty space.

“Hunny, I….I don’t know what to say,” Ken cried.

“Just don’t say goodbye,” Sandra replied.

Ken had seconds of air left, “I’ll see you later.”