"You don't have to do this!" I scream into the radio, turning every knob at my disposal and hoping that one of them has gained a new function that I don't know about. Preferably, I would like one of them to have the function of turning around a careening rocket.

"You know that's not true." He says back to me in the calmest voice I've ever heard. I hate it when he's like this.

"It is true! Just turn around and come home! The missile didn't blow up the meteor. It was a dud. So what!? That's not your fault! No one will blame you for returning home. You'll still be a hero!" I continue to shout.

"It wasn't a dud. I initiated the launch sequence too early. I was overzealous and instead of hitting the meteor, the missile exploded in open space. Now, this is my only option." He says slowly.

"Ok, ok, calm down...."

"I am calm."

"I'm talking to myself idiot!" I scream at the top of my lungs. He lets out a soft chuckle.

"I owe this to the people of Earth."

"What do you owe them!? Huh! What? That meteor isn't going to hit for another year! If it's not this thing that destroys us it will be another! The sun is one bulb shy of dying and the Earth's core is seeping out through the deep sea crevices as we speak. At most, this suicide mission of yours will give the Earth an additional 6 months!"

"It's worth it." He says as he picks up speed toward the meteor.

"How is it worth it!? What could happen in those 6 more months to make it worth it?" I ask in desperation.

"Our son could have another birthday. The sun could shine and the birds could chirp. The Geo guys could make progress on those 'Earth Saving' measures they're always talking about. Your smile could light up a thousand more rooms..." He continues to list things but I've stopped listening. There's a loud ringing in my ears and I'm getting dizzy. The Geo guys haven't made any progress in the past 5 years. The realization is hitting me now. He's going to do this no matter what I say but I just can't give up.

"If you turn around right now, you could have an entire year of life left. Be here for our son's next birthday. Hear those bird chirps and feel the sun's rays. You could be in every room that gets illuminated by my smile." I say in my sweetest voice, like I'm reading a poem. He always says that my voice is what he fell in love with first.

"How can a year of my life compare to 18 months for the entire earth?"

"It doesn't compare! You're better! You're more important than all of them! I would blow up the Earth right now if it meant one more minute with you!" My voice cracks as I'm on the edge of tears.

"Hey Silly Head, if you blew up the Earth you would be dead and therefore unable to spend another minute with me." He says in a teasing voice.

"Don't call me Silly Head! You know I hate it!"

"I'm sorry, Monica." He says seriously.

"If you're sorry then come back."

"No."

"If you don't come back here now, I'm going to kill you!"

"Ok. Yeah, I'm sure there's a spare rocket laying around that you can commandeer for a ride to space just so that you can kill your husband."

"I hate you."

"I love you."

"You're the worst."

"You're beautiful."

"No one's even going to care that you did this! There won't be any news articles about you or folk songs written about heroic astronaut Isreal Bayer. The environmentalists will still be complaining that we destroyed the earth and the corporations will deny that anything is even wrong. There's not even anyone else left at ground control now. They all gave up and went home when the first missile missed. I'm the only one here to witness this!" I shout as hot tears scream down my face.

"You're the only one that matters." He replies in a resolved tone. I can't stand it. I throw my radio at the wall and it smashes into a million pieces just as I see a flash of light and fire erupt in the sky.

"I love you too." I whisper.