i held her tiny face in the palm of my hands. i searched her eyes for permission to call
the whole thing off. i wondered for a moment if we should wait just one more day.
but she laid there calmly. bravely. tired.

we were told it could take up to 30 seconds or it could be 3 to 5 minutes. i panicked.
i feared it would be too quick and then worried it could take too long. Fifteen years 
was but a drop in the bucket and yet one more minute seemed a distance too far. 

i kissed her on her forehead. she held me with gentle breezes of her final breaths.
i told her she was a very good girl. i yelled out her name. i heard the sound of death
rush a final wave through the port. Before I could offer one more goodbye-
our old gal Mojo, simply burst away.