Addressing her future lover, a microbiology botanist reflects on their first meeting. It was on Mars. He was busy with engineering, and they did not encounter each other unless they were working in the North Dome, where plants were grown. Sadly, their botanical experiments on Mars failed, and plant after plant died. 

The botanist’s lab was a different story, however. She managed to grow all kinds of plants there. The engineer gifted her mechanical insects to keep the plants company. Unfortunately, at that time, the engineer was married. 

Soon, the botanist began dreaming about the engineer. She had admirable goals for growing plants, but none of them succeeded. Back on Earth, she and the engineer partook in physical therapy together. His body recovered at a much faster rate than hers, which he demonstrated with a handstand. 

The engineer returned to his wife and work. The botanist decided to travel. When she was ready, she began researching again. All that time, the botanist still thought about the engineer. She heard that he and his wife had divorced. He had also returned to Mars. 

After writing a successful paper on an organism that could survive on Mars, the botanist began talking with the engineer again, although their communication mainly took the form of scientific observations. He entreated her to return to the planet, and she did. 

Sick from the travel, the botanist was confined to the bay, where the engineer visited her. She noticed a change in his demeanor. Soon, the botanist recovered well enough to show the engineer her handstand. She gifted him a dwarf fern to keep in his room.

While talking about and preparing for the transplanting, a tender moment occurred between the two astronauts. The engineer held the botanist’s hand. But she was hesitant about the gesture.

The next few days, the two astronauts talked about the fern, which continued to thrive. The botanist wondered how. The engineer did not care how, as long as it did thrive. Unfortunately, the transplants on Mars did not. They died, but lived slightly longer than last time. 

Admiring the engineer’s hope and certainty, the botanist kissed him. She willed herself to believe that one day they would successfully grow plants on Mars.