Titan’s reflection on the spaceport’s panels reminded Gillian of a squeezed orange over monochrome tableware.

“Earth awaits.” The Captain pointed at the shuttle’s hatch. “I’ll retrieve artefacts and Corinthian marble. You?”

The once-Blue Planet had nothing left but ocean-ravaged megalopolis, a hunting ground for nostalgic souls.

“Seashells and broken hearts.”

Russell Hemmell is an alien from Mintaka snuggled into a (consenting) human host. Recent fiction has appeared on Aurealis, The Grievous Angel, New Myths, and elsewhere. See more at earthianhivemind.net and @SPBianchini.