Ten years later...

Astra is fast asleep. I turn on the news. Not a mention of Iron Man, or Captain America. I guess the sun set on their time in the spotlight, and now new heroes have taken their place. As I look down, I see the chain with James' ring on it. A decade ago, but the pain feels new every time I see it. Still, I wear it. In memory of him. In honor of him.

Astra peeks outside her bedroom, holding her bear in one arm. I smile and mute the TV.

"What are you doing up, Little Star?" I ask.

"I couldn't sleep. I had a bad dream." She tells me. I wave her over, and she sits next to me on the loveseat. "Are we in danger, Mommy?"

"No, baby," I reply, "no danger."

"No monsters in the closet?" She asks. I shake my head and laugh a little.

"Only in your head." I answer. She holds up an old video game. It had been one of James' favorites. Androids rising against their creators, like how we rose against our parents.

"Can we play this?" She asks, innocence in her voice. I shake my head.

"You're too young to play that, baby." I reply.

She pouts before putting it down. I pick her up and say, "Astra, it's almost midnight. How about I tell you a bedtime story and you go to sleep?"

She nods as I carry her back to her room. I tuck her in and open a book. Quietly, I read, "In a great green room, there was a telephone, and a red balloon, and a picture of-"

I turn the page. "The cow jumping over the moon. And there were three little bears sitting in chairs, and two kittens, and a pair of mittens, and a little toy house, and a young mouse.

"And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush, and a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush".

"Goodnight room, goodnight moon, goodnight cow jumping over the moon. Goodnight light, and the red balloon.

"Goodnight bears, goodnight chairs, goodnight kittens, and goodnight mittens.

"Goodnight clocks, and goodnight socks. Goodnight little house, and goodnight mouse. Goodnight comb, and goodnight brush. Goodnight nobody, goodnight mush, and goodnight to the old lady saying "hush".

"Goodnight stars, goodnight air, good night noises everywhere."

I stand and close the book. Astra is fast asleep. I turn off her lamp and walk to the door, turning back to whisper, "and goodnight, baby girl. I'll be here for you in the morning. I promise."