The bedroom on the Earth side was exactly as I had left it, except the bed had been remade and there were two folded shirts on the chair that Mira had apparently brought up at some point.
My phone said four in the morning, local time.
I had hours.
I fell back onto the bed and slept properly.
...
When I woke up the second time, the sun was full through the windows and Mira was at the foot of the bed, fully dressed, putting earrings on with the small efficient motions of a woman with somewhere to be.
I made a small noise that was probably supposed to be her name.
"Morning, baby." She glanced over without turning. "You slept like the dead. I almost climbed back in. Then I remembered I had things to do."
"What time is it?" My voice came out gravel.
"Almost ten. I've been up since seven. You needed it." She finished with the second earring and turned to look at me properly, hands on her hips.
