Z is for Zubeneschamali
Prompt: Introspective
23 Minutes
515 Words
2 Challenges (15 Minute Word Prompt + 2007 Alphabet Challenge, although it was written in May, 2008)
1 Blatant Shout Out/Bribe to a Certain Numb3rs Fan
Megan wondered if Larry would have his cell phone on.
There was really only one way to find out, but she hesitated. It would do her lonely heart good to hear her lover's voice. However, hearing his voice mail message would make her feel rejected.
Especially if he didn't call back immediately, if not sooner.
She snorted at herself. She was the one who had decided to continue her education where she'd started it, on the East Coast. There were many good colleges in California.
Vaguely, she wondered if she could have gotten her degree at CalSci. She shook off that thought. There were too many distractions at CalSci. Even leaving Larry out, which she didn't want to do, Charlie had a way of dragging people into FBI cases.
On top of that, her former colleagues were wont to show up at CalSci at odd times. She remembered how many times she had dropped in for a piece of advice or a piece of pie.
No, it was better to do her schoolwork without distractions… but not without Larry.
She gritted her teeth and punched in #1 on her speed dial.
Larry picked up on the first ring. "Megan!"
"Larry," Megan had to swallow a lump in her throat. "How are you?"
"Physically, I'm fine," Larry replied.
"How about spiritually and mentally?"
"I'd say fine to both of those, except the last time I was at the Eppes' residence, Charles beat me… at Scrabble!"
"Oh, my, that's a bad sign." Paradoxically, Megan could feel her cheeks stretch into a smile as a tear trickled down the right one.
"And you?"
"I miss you," she blurted.
"I miss you, too," Larry responded. "However, I have a bit of comfort for you."
Another tear trickled down her widening smile. "I was hopin' you would."
"Step out onto your balcony."
Megan stepped onto the balcony of her third floor apartment.
"Look up."
"Which star am I lookin' for?" she inquired.
"You might want to get some binoculars, they are rather dim."
Megan's tears stopped as she retrieved her binoculars from the bookcase and focused.
"Now aim between the three storey building across the way and the flag pole in front of the post office," Larry instructed. "Go straight up until you find three stars that form a triangle."
"Okay, I see them… Is that Libra?"
"It is indeed. Note the greenish star."
"Okay."
"That's Zubeneschamali, the Northern Claw. It was once considered to be part of Scorpio."
"Oh?"
"It and its partner, Zubenelgenubi, appear to us to be close together. However, appearances are deceptive, as they are actually billions of light years apart."
Megan laughed. "So, what are we? Deceptively close or deceptively far?"
"I'm just saying that actual distance is immaterial. It's what we feel that's important."
"Ah… I see… waitaminnit!"
"I'm waiting."
Megan could hear mischief in his voice.
"How do you know what's across the street from me?"
Larry laughed.
Megan turned her binoculars from the heavens to the sidewalk.
Larry waved.
Megan's face broke into another smile, and this time there were no tears.