In a town where the sea met the sky in an endless embrace, Sage often found himself on the edge of cliffs, looking out with a heart full of questions. His days were punctuated with little adventures, but the nights, they were a collage of thoughts, mostly about Kerrie.
Kerrie, with her penchant for wonder and a laughter that sounded like every happy song ever written, had been Sage's confidante for as long as he could remember. Their stories were intertwined, from shared secrets under old oak trees to silently challenging each other to reach for the furthest stars.
But adolescence had introduced a new chapter, one Sage wasn't prepared for. He had fallen for Kerrie, and the weight of the unspoken feelings seemed heavier with each passing day. They moved in opposite directions, always keeping in touch through texts, chats, video calls, but still drifting apart over the years.
The streets of Seattle were dotted with fresh rain as the waters receded, revealing a refreshed world. In the heart of the city, Sage Phoenix Corlett Waters, or simply "Sage," was preparing for yet another adventure. He ran his fingers through his wet hair, letting the droplets fall to the ground below.
"Off to another camp session, Kerbal?" teased his younger sister, India, using his beloved camp alias.
"Always!" Sage replied, laughing, "But first, a detour."
His path took him to a park where he'd played countless soccer games for the Scorpions. He chuckled, recalling that one summer in Las Vegas when he'd actually felt a sting from a real scorpion. "Guess they were just welcoming me to the team," he mused.
His journey led him Mox's Boarding House, a local gaming store. The latest expansion for Kerbal Space Program, tabletop edition was releasing today, and Sage was first in line. As he waited, he exchanged Pokémon strategies with a young kid who reminded him of his earlier gaming days.
Later, he reunited with Andreas, Owen, and Eli. The quartet spent hours delving into various digital realms, their shared laughter echoing through Sage's room. His jubilant laughter, always reminiscent of Beavis, would occasionally rouse India from sleep. Still, she'd smile, finding comfort in the familiar sound of her brother's joy.
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The evening had a special touch. The family sat together, Sage playing the lullaby he had crafted for India. The soft, comforting melody enveloped the room, reminding them of the bond they shared.
When the hour grew late, and the gaming session concluded, Sage retreated to his room. He gazed at the posters of rockets, space explorations, and Air Force insignias. His dreams were vast, from the depths of space to the vast skies. But tonight, his eyes lingered on the emblem of the Air Force Special Forces.
He recalled the elation of being accepted into Embry-Riddle's Aerospace Engineering Program, the camaraderie with his AFROTC Detachment 28 comrades, and his pivot towards becoming an STO.
As he settled into bed, his thoughts traveled to Camp Sealth, where his journey as Kerbal began, and then to the myriad of places he'd been: Cambodia, Kenya, Mexico, and beyond.
Closing his eyes, he imagined the cosmic ocean, where waves like him rose and fell, each leaving a mark, each wave a story. For now, he was here, his journey a testament to his spirit, ambition, and the love he shared with those around him.
And as dawn approached, Sage Phoenix Corlett Waters dreamt of soaring, of exploring, and of the love he was surrounded by, ever the burning Charmander in the vast expanse of life. He woke early, said his goodbyes, then headed off to a different kind of camp than Camp Sealth, one he knew he could conquer. It was all about building character, and over then next two and a half years he'd build as much character as he could.
It would be five years before he saw Kerrie again in person, but when he did it was as if no time had passed, at least in his mind.
One evening, as they sat shoulder to shoulder, the world both vast and incredibly intimate, Kerrie broke the silence. "We're drifting, Sage. Like two ships that lost their compass."
Sage hesitated, then whispered, "I'm lost, Kerrie. Lost in how I feel about you and the fear of ruining 'us'."
The pause that followed felt like a lifetime, but then Kerrie spoke, "In this vast cosmos, amidst all its mysteries, you've been my anchor, Sage. And I've been harboring feelings too, maybe even longer than you have."
The revelation felt like the first rays of dawn, illuminating the shadows. Together, they embarked on a journey of discovery, love, and the inevitable rollercoasters of life. With each challenge, Sage found his strength in their shared moments, and Kerrie, in their shared dreams, as they wrote their own infinite story amidst the finite universe