"George, I can't do this without you!
George could hear his newborn baby's cry over the comm. Desperately trying to keep his mind off what he had to do, George asked: "What is it?".
"Oh my god, George - It's a girl!" cried Winona.
"A girl? Just like you always wanted! Tell me about her."
"She's beautiful! George, you should be here."
"What are we going to call her? She probably won't like 'James Tiberius' much" he laughed. Laughter was vital. Anything to distract him from the reality that he'd just set a collision course for the rogue ship.
Winona searched frantically for a quick answer. She knew time was short. "Why don't we name her after our mothers instead?" she suggested.
"That's a great idea, honey. Cynthia Ann Kirk it is. Sweetheart, can you hear me?"
"I can hear."
"I love you so much. I love you…"
The comm suddenly turned to static. A bright flash outside the medical shuttle's window was all the confirmation Winona needed that she was alone in the world. Alone, with two young children to raise. She cried until she had no tears left to shed.