Sagar's Final Wish

“Hello?” I hear a voice crackle, “Is this Sagar Saaswan?”

I tip the bottle back, trying to drink away the thoughts. “Yeah, it’s me.”

“This is Jax from The Galaxy Society of Piracy. We have a job for you. Are you in?”

I stare at the ocean as it crashes over my feet. The cool water tickles my toes, but does nothing to soothe my mind. I take another swig and look down at the orange sun setting behind the distant landmass. My home will be shrouded in darkness soon.

I tilt my head back, feeling the icy wind catch my hair and sting my face. I feel like I could float away on the small breeze. Maybe I should? “I don’t know Jax… Maybe I need some time off…?”

Jax tries to say something but the static drowns him out, “…know that feeling…but you need to get over it…you need your crew...we really need you back…the mission…it checks all your boxes: money, thrill, danger…and beautiful women too! Listen man we got you a sweet deal here! You’ll be set for life! Do what you love again! Have your own ship! You know you wanna! What do you say!? Lemme put you through to Aiden for details!!”

I wipe my brow and stare up into space. Millions of stars are spread before me like glittering diamonds scattered across black velvet. The void is endless and unforgiving; no one can hear or see you die here. In the past few days I have felt more alone than ever before in my life. But now I hear Jax’s voice again and he has brought someone with him. It is a woman. She has a soft accent - maybe French? Hmm she sounds familiar…but where have I heard her before? Oh well right now I just want to get this job done and forget about everything else: my ex-wife, my dead mother, my tragic childhood, Jax...the list goes on. I don’t blame them all for leaving me; they did what they thought was best at the time, but now I just want to do something that makes me happy again: have money and fame and adventure! Be feared across the stars! Be loved!?

As if answering my question Jax says, “Sagar this is Cori Delacroix….oh wait hold on she wants to talk to you…she wants to tell you herself why this job is perfect for you!! Hold on Cori!!! Let me put her on speakerphone!!!!!! Here she is!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Speak Cori!!!!!!!!!! Say hi to Sagar!!!!!! Say hi!!!!!”

The phone vibrates in my hand as a high pitched voice shrieks out at me through the speakerphone, “why hello Mr Saaswan how are ya!? This must be such a surprise right!? Oh well let me explain why this job is perfect for YOU! Soooo first of all there will be an EXCITING lady along with us!!! Sooo YEAH!!! Guess who?!?!?! Your BIGGEST fan Mr Saaswan!!! ME!!! Can you even believe it??? That means we can talk about your work together and make new plans for future projects toooooo!! Isn't that GREAT news??? We can make lots of new memories together!!! Just like we used to do when we were married in real life Mr Saaaswaaaaaan!!! Isn't that great news?!!!?! Don't worry Mr Saaaswaaaaaan we won't tell anyone about our past relationship because nobody knows about that anymore except for meeeeeeee and JAAXxxxxx but he's nice and won't tell anyone either because he's got his mouth sealed shut like a ZIPPED UP ZIPPERRRR!!!! Oh and also there will be lots of ADVENTURE soooooo we can fall in love AGAIN just like in REAL LIFE!!! And we'll fight ENEMIES together agaaaaainst all odds!!! And then after our mission we can celebrate by making lots of NEW MEMORIES together toooootally noooo questions asked hahaaaa! Why don't we start tonight while our boat sails toward our destination? It's going to take a while cuz our boat's kinda slow sooo prepare yourself Mr Saaaswaaaaaan! Actually let's just fly there instead of sailing in case anything goes wrong since speed is everything Mr Saaaswaaaaaan so maybe call your friends already and get ready for takeoff because we're taking off in like an hour or two hours or three hours depending on how fast your friends pick up their phones or whatever phones they use these days uhhh oh oh oh oh AND THERE WILL BE MONEY TOO SO WE CAN BUY US SOME NEW STUFF AND FURNITURE AND STUFF TO MAKE IT LOOK ALL COZY WHEN WE LIVE TOGETHER AGAIN LIKE IN REAL LIFE OKAY BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE SAY YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS PLEASE FOR GOD'S SAKE SAY YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"