As Wilma sat quietly, she thought about her impending demise. She had already accepted that she would eventually die. Starvation was not what she had ever considered though. She knew her work was dangerous and that her death was always possible. She had said her goodbyes to her friends already. All except Buck. Saying goodbye to Buck was going to be painfully. It already was just thinking about it. Not only because of her unresolved feelings for him, but she knew he would never understand the 25th Century policy.
When Buck stormed out of Dr Huer's office he was furious. How could Huer let this happen to Wilma Deering, why wasn't anybody outraged by this injustice. He just couldn't understand. But soon he realized anger wasn't helping so he used diaphragmatic breath, a technique he learned in the military, to control his emotions. Before long he was standing in front of Wilma's door. After another deep breath he stretched his hand out to the panel to announce his presence.
Wilma was surprised to hear Buck's name as her visitor. Ready or not, she would be able to say her goodbyes to him now. "Enter."
Buck entered Wilma's unit and saw her sitting comfortably in a chair.
"Hi" he said.
Wilma turned her head towards the sound of his voice. "Hi yourself" she replied.
"I saw Dr Huer when I got back from Satellite Vane, he told me what happened. I am so sorry."
"Do not be sorry. I have always known that I could lose my life as a result of my work."
Buck pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. He took her hand. "But this is so unfair. Why can't they just give you food disks, surely, they have plenty of extras"?
"The truth is everything is carefully balanced. We have very little margin for error, None for waste. If somebody ruins a serving of food, or greedily consumes two when he's only entitled to one-then somebody else goes without a meal that day.[1]" she told him. Only those members of the society that contribute to the good of the society as a whole are allotted food disks. And I no longer qualify. The computer council was developed to make the difficult decisions like this one. To take emotion out of decisions that had to be made for the good of all." Wilma said.
"But you can get your sight back with treatment I thought"
"Yes, treatment would help but it will take too long, and the truth is I have no way to get there. I cannot see to travel to the medical unit remember" she said in a quiet voice.
"Why aren't you fighting this?" he demanded. "Why are you just sitting there waiting to die."
"Because there is nothing I can do."
"I can't accept that, there has to be something someone can do. Why can't Huer use his influence with the computer council?"
"There is nothing that can be done. I have accepted my death; I am afraid you must also."
"You can't die, you can't! I love you!" he declared.
Wilma sighed and said, "I so wish you had told me sooner." After a pause she told him "You need to leave now Buck please." When he hesitated, she repeated "Please leave" and she withdrew her hand from his. Buck rose and stood looking at her for a long moment. He didn't want to leave but he didn't want to upset her by staying. He slowly walked to the door. He looked back and said, "I am not giving up, I will find a way I will!"
[1] Addison E Steele novel based on original teleplay.