Wiping Away Traces of You

Edgar's parents were long gone.

A faded old newspaper headline still preserved the details of their tragic deaths: "Heiress Suffers Mental Breakdown: Fatally Stabs Husband Over 100 Times, End Own Life, Leaves Only Son Behind."

He was that only son, who was then taken in by the Yale family out of kindness.

Jessica was a few years his senior. Perhaps moved by his plight, she'd showered him with utmost care. Anything Edgar wanted, she would find a way to give him, even if it were the stars in the sky.

And she had, quite literally, given him a star.

The trauma of losing his parents had left Edgar scarred, and he constantly sought reassurance and safety. Thus, one quiet night, Jessica had led him up to the rooftop.

Pointing to the brightest star in the sky, she smiled and said, "Edgar, see that star? I've bought it for you."

She'd handed him the star's ownership certificate, tapping the tip of his nose playfully. "From now on, that star is yours. When I'm not around, it'll always watch over you for me."

Edgar walked to the window now and pulled back the curtains to search the night sky for his star. However, the sky was covered in thick clouds, and his star was nowhere to be seen.

The next morning, Harry Torres, the person in charge of the cryonics research team, called. "Mr. Lawrie, we need you to come in for a physical examination."

Edgar smiled wryly. "Is that really necessary?"

He was dying, after all. No number of tests would change that.

"The examination is to determine the best freezing method and timing for your body," Harry explained. "It's to maximize your chances of survival. Please cooperate."

With no reason to refuse, Edgar drove to the cryonics lab.

…

After a long day of tests, it was finally over. Before leaving, Harry handed him a thick stack of documents.

"These include options for the design and storage of your cryonic capsule," he explained. "You may have a look and let us know your preferences."

Edgar nodded, thanked him softly, and headed home with the documents in hand. When he entered the house, he noticed the lights in the living room were on. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that Jessica was back.

Even after her harsh treatment, his heart still ached for her.

Steeling himself, Edgar quickened his pace into the living room. But instead of Jessica, he was greeted by Cooper lounging on the couch in a half-open bathrobe.

"Edgar, you're back!" Cooper approached warmly and said, "Have you eaten? Jess is in the kitchen cooking. Tell me what you'd like for dinner, and I'll let her know."

He behaved as if he was the master of the house.

A bitter ache welled up in Edgar's chest. He shook his head and was about to say that he wasn't hungry when Jessica came out of the kitchen carrying a dish.

"You're just in time," she said briskly. "Cooper and I are engaged. Starting today, he's the head of this household. All decisions, big or small, will be made by him."

Edgar looked down and mumbled, "Got it."

Jessica had expected resistance, and his calm acceptance surprised her.

"Don't be so serious, Jess. You're scaring him," Cooper remarked with a grin. "Come on, Edgar, let's eat. Don't mind her."

He then grabbed Edgar's arm and pulled him toward the dining room. The sudden movement caused the stack of documents Edgar was holding to scatter across the floor.

Jessica frowned and bent down to pick up one of the pages. It was a cryonics capsule design. Her voice turned icy as she demanded, "What's this?"

Although Edgar's heart raced, he kept a composed exterior and explained, "It's a design for a cryonics capsule. My professor assigned us a project to design something over the summer. I wanted to create a crystal casket to preserve bodies, so I printed out some reference materials."

It wasn't entirely implausible. After all, he was a freshman majoring in design.

However, Jessica's expression remained stormy. "Edgar, are you out of your mind?"