My dearest Zoë,

Part of me hopes you aren't reading this and that I'm currently burning it while you're sleeping beside me. But if I've learned anything from being on this ship for as many years as I have…I know that small hope has died.

Right now everyone is outside preparing the ship to go to Miranda. It breaks my heart to do this to our home, but with each tear and rip of the hull I know that it is for a good greater then we know right now. I have always had faith in Mal and knew that if you trusted him then things will work for the best. Somehow.

None of us know if we're going to make it out of this. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. But I move on and fight with every last breath I have for one reason. You.

If I've learned anything it's that life out here in the 'verse is unexpected. Nothing goes how we plan and nothing lasts forever. There are two things that I'm sure of. How much I love you and how amazingly strong you are. I think sometimes that is part of the reason I love you as much as I do; I've never met someone as strong as you and never with a heart as big as yours.

Ending this letter there is one thing I'm also sure of. How thankful I am for Mal. I know there was uncertainty in the past as well as jealousy but now I am glad he's in our lives. In your life.

I know he'll take care of you if you fall apart. I know he'll do it even if you don't. Just as I know you will always look after him.

When I met you that day I came for the job I knew there would be no one else for me. That has always remained true.

I love you. It's as simple as that.

With shaking hands she folded the letter back up, ignoring how his blood mixed with her tears and staining her fingers. Zoë closed her eyes tightly and took slow, deep breath's as she tried to remember the last time she broke down and cried before now.

She could remember the last time she wore a dress – her simple wedding to Wash with Kaylee grinning so wide she thought her head was going to fall off and Mal giving her away.

But for the life of her she couldn't remember the last time she cried.