The morning was cold and damp as she ambled aimlessly through the gardens of the holo- program. Her feet made a slight squishing sound on the dew covered grass as she walked toward the small wooden gate of the garden. On the gate grew roses of all varieties, and she traced her fingers along the petals of a luscious pink rose, smiling at the beauty of the flower. She heard footsteps behind her as she continued to caress the flower. She stood still, her caress on the flower halting as she anticipated what was going to happen next. She felt a hand upon her shoulder and a voice asked "Are you going to be alright?" His thumb gently stroked her shoulder as she felt a tear slip down her cheek. She didn't even realize that she had been holding back tears, until they began to flow more freely down her cheeks. His hand slowly moved from her shoulder and both of his hands began to gently stroke her arms that she had crossed around her chest. "I'm just saying goodbye Chakotay… it's so hard to let her go though…" Her words caught in her throat as she swallowed a sob. A breeze blew as a few leaves swirled around them, his arms falling to his sides as she turned to face him. "She's still here Kathryn…" He too felt a lump in his throat as Kathryn reached down and picked a rose that had fallen near the gate. She gathered the one lone white rose, grasping the gate as she stood up. "Just one more walk around the garden Chakotay, just one more before I close the garden gate forever." He offered his arm as she began to walk. Graciously she accepted the gesture and grasped onto his arm and they slowly strolled around the beautiful flower patch. The sun began to rise as they stood by the gate. "I guess it's time to let go Chakotay…"
"She'll always be with us you know…" Arm in arm they exited the garden. Kathryn let go of Chakotay's arm and stood in front of the open wooden gate. Slowly she gently pushed the gate shut, relishing in the small squeaks and creaks of the portal… As the sun pushed past the final cloud in the sky, Kathryn picked up one more rose that had fallen in front of the closed gateway. She moved slowly away from the enclosed garden, toward Chakotay, handing him the flower in silence. The two exited arm in arm from the holodeck as Kathryn looked back one last time and whispered "Goodbye Kes… and thank you…"
