Berry had gotten there quite early and found her seat next to her gate. She had just another two hours in the country. After that, she would be back in the United States. Berry told herself that it was for the best, but despite that, she felt a deep wrenching at the idea of leaving Alamun. In the short amount of time that she had been there, it had come to feel more like home than any other place on the planet.She deliberately prevented herself from thinking about Rasul. Somehow, she had shipped off everything she needed, packed what was essential, and gotten rid of the rest. At the moment, however, there was no place where she could put her need and love for him, not yet. She prayed that at some point, she would be able to get the distance she needed, but it was not happening yet. Idly Berry watched the people around her. Some looked anxious while others were simply excited. One or two looked worried. She wondered who was waiting for them on the other end of the voyage. Would they return to families that loved them?
