Bobby had just come back to Second Earth after he and Loor had saved Zadaa and he was lounging on Mark's sofa in the basement with Mark and Courtney. They were talking and laughing together as if trying to pretend that everything was normal and that Bobby really wasn't a traveler. Bobby took a swig of Coke and then got up.
"I'm going to go out and get some air." he told Mark and Courtney, tired of the cramped up air in the basement.
His friends nodded and Bobby walked out the door. He walked down the street and moved slowly through the lot where his house used to be. The memory wasn't as painful now that he understood his purpose and that one day he would see his family again but he did still miss his old life sometimes. A sound behind him broke Bobby out of his reverie. Looking behind him, he saw Courtney walking towards him with an odd look on her face. She came up and stood beside him.
"We need to talk, Bobby." her tone had something of anxiety in it and this made Bobby turn towards her, his curiosity aroused.
"About what?" Bobby replied.
"Us. There is no way that we can stay together when you are rarely here and all the communication I get from you is your journals and I have to share those with Mark." Courtney took a deep breath. "I have found someone else and by the way you speak of Loor, I think you have too. Maybe it would be best if we just broke up."
Bobby wasn't surprised. He had expected this to happen one day because Courtney was right; they rarely saw each other and never had a chance to be alone. And she was also right about Loor…
Looking up at Courtney, Bobby gave her a small smile.
"I think you're right, Courtney. That would probably be the best thing to do."
Courtney hugged him and they held on to each other one last time. She let go and Bobby took both of her hands in his.
"Good luck." he told her.
"Good luck to you too, Bobby."
"Could you tell Mark goodbye for me? I'm leaving now. I will still write to you, if you want."
"Okay." Courtney wished he would have stayed a little longer and hoped he wasn't leaving because they had just broken up.
Bobby let go of he hands and walked out of the lot and headed towards the flume which would take him to his next territory. Courtney watched him go and after he was out of sight, she headed back to Mark's house and to try to get on with her life.