"It's not a big deal," she answered softly, looking away towards the horizon. "Death, that is. It's kind of like going to sleep. Until you wake up and then..."

Then it was just strange because you discovered you've been abandoned by your father. He said you would be amazing, he promised to take you traveling with him. But he didn't even wait around for your funeral.

Jenny didn't know where these thoughts came from. They were always there, of course. But they weren't ones she liked to think of much. Because maybe in the end, her dad couldn't stand having a soldier for a daughter. Even if her Not-Dad seemed to act otherwise, she knew it was easy enough to lie.

"I promise," she answered, meaning it. "But we're still going to Astroland. I'm going to make sure you have fun on this trip, Edward."