"l-look at how far we've come..."

"And to think it all started with a stunt I pulled on you two when we were teens..."

"Now look at us. Post-grad degree holding professionals."

"A-and with a family started"

"ehh. for you two. For me, I may have pulled a thread longer than I wanted... buuut.. a detour wouldn't hurt. I'll find my way in time, just like you two did!"

"I'm still absolutely lost."

"Not AS lost. Y-you need to give yourself more credit hon."

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"It's nice to relax with the twins, even if just for a moment in our busy workday. We wouldn't exactly have the time to enjoy company come dinner. We're raising twins, and she's slogging away with trying to make peace with some really powerful figures. These twins I... I 'unno. babysat? helped? They envy something in me still. They envy how content I've gotten. The only difference is how they manage it. Emily makes peace with it, doesn't dwell on it much and treats me as her muse to shore up her patience. My husband, Mathew, on the other hand... We all still have a lot more work before us with how he manages it. At least he's leagues better than what he was. He's back on the path, and we're all here to help keep him on it." - Fera

_________

Coffee high up in residential-commercial zones of the space elevator and arcology. The view is modest and in reasonable proximity given where all of them work. Just decided to do something simple and slice of life.