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She took my hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to look around more?"
My gaze travelled to the farm and I shook my head. "No, I think I want to go. It was lovely to be back and know it's in good hands, but it's no longer my home."
Atina nodded. "I understand. Time for retail-therapy?"
"Yes, please. Hang on, just a moment." I hopped out of the van and dashed to the bench, half-bent over so I wasn't visible through the window. The farmer seemed lovely and kind but I didn't want to risk them seeing me.
I waved at Atina. "Come give me a hand."
She frowned as she came over, mimicking my run and looking adorable as she did. "What are we doing?"
"We're taking the bench. It's my parents' bench." I glanced in the window, reassured that nobody was looking, and picked up one end. "Okay, go, go, go."
Atina laughed, a wonderful bubbly sound as we hauled the old bench into the shuttle. I heard stumbling in the farm but kept running. It didn't matter if they called the cops or told on me, I didn't plan on coming back here.
"Drive," I instructed, strapping myself in. "Hurry, hurry."
The shuttle set in motion and we pulled away. A strange calm came over me as the farm grew smaller and smaller and eventually disappeared when we went over the green hill. I thought it would be harder to be back but it just enforced the feeling that this place was no longer home.
"Let's park at the church," I instructed, pointing at the parking lot. "Then we don't have to pay."
With a nod, Atina did as I asked and parked neatly between the lines.
"Impressive," I told her. "I was never any good at parking."
"I'm not a pilot for nothing," she said with a proud grin, her gaze drifting to the bench. "That's going to be hard to smuggle on the ship. We should make sure the captain doesn't see that."
"Why? Can't we just bring it up with the other supplies?" I asked.
"Oh, right. Yes, that makes sense. See, this is why I could never be a smuggler." Atina gave me a look. "Are you sure you're okay? That must've been weird to be back at your old home."
I nodded. "Yes, I'm okay. It was... cathartic. Do you understand that word?"
"I'm not sure. Is it the same feeling as when I found the Kendari who mistreated Jiji and kicked him right in the gachinks?"
"I don't know what gachinks are but that doesn't sound pleasant," I said, chuckling. "But I'm not sure if that's the same as catharsis. It's more like... relief after a long period of stress, when your insides go all quiet and there's calm inside your heart."
"Ah, I see. On Kyven, we call that Ama'ta."
"Ama'ta," I echoed. "That's a nice word. It reminds me of Ba'ta'k."
Atina gave me a curious look. "You know what Ba'ta'k is?"
"Yes, Rachel and Tamsia are planning theirs. Here, it's called marriage. Kind of. It seems deeper on Kyven, more intense and more binding."
"Marriage." Atina nodded. "I read about that in my research."
"What research?"
"I researched your planet and customs while you were in stasis," Atina said, looking proud of herself. She ran a hand through her lovely green hair. "Marriage is a legal union between two people."
"It is. How come you were reading about marriage?"
Atina's dark blue skin flushed slightly. "I was curious. I also read about mouth kisses"
Her endearing way of wording that made me snort. "It's just called a kiss."
"But that doesn't specify where you're kissing."
