Jessika Downes-Gössl

When Reggie has finished perusing, he rolls up the wish. Then he slides it into a copper tube, which he retrieves from beneath the workstation. He seals the tube with a screw-on cap, secures it in the side pocket of a red slim-fit peacoat, and throws the garment over his shoulders. I'm off, he says in a mellow voice that carries throughout the honeycombed workspace.

When Reggie has finished perusing, he rolls up the wish. Then he slides it into a copper tube, which he retrieves from beneath the workstation. He seals the tube with a screw-on cap, secures it in the side pocket of a red slim-fit peacoat, and throws the garment over his shoulders. I'm off, he says in a mellow voice that carries throughout the honeycombed workspace.

Reggie tugs on a pair of black leather gloves and heads for the exit. His fellow wish-granters respond to his announcement with excited well-wishes and good-natured envy. Reggie can't hear every response, but he deciphers a few exchanges on his way to the chamber's inner door. He's off to deliver a high-priority wish, says one coworker.

Reggie tugs on a pair of black leather gloves and heads for the exit. His fellow wish-granters respond to his announcement with excited well-wishes and good-natured envy. Reggie can't hear every response, but he deciphers a few exchanges on his way to the chamber's inner door. He's off to deliver a high-priority wish, says one coworker.

Reggie tugs on a pair of black leather gloves and heads for the exit. His fellow wish-granters respond to his announcement with excited well-wishes and good-natured envy. Reggie can't hear every response, but he deciphers a few exchanges on his way to the chamber's inner door. He's off to deliver a high-priority wish, says one coworker.

Others nearby joke whether Reggie should be trusted with such a precious item. and still more remind him, with a smile, that he doesn't have to hurry back. It's always a treat to travel down to Earth, after all. Reggie waves a gloved hand, both to say goodbye and to acknowledge he's heard all the jokes and farewells. He passes through the inner door into a narrow hallway.

Others nearby joke whether Reggie should be trusted with such a precious item. and still more remind him, with a smile, that he doesn't have to hurry back. It's always a treat to travel down to Earth, after all. Reggie waves a gloved hand, both to say goodbye and to acknowledge he's heard all the jokes and farewells. He passes through the inner door into a narrow hallway.

Others nearby joke whether Reggie should be trusted with such a precious item. and still more remind him, with a smile, that he doesn't have to hurry back. It's always a treat to travel down to Earth, after all. Reggie waves a gloved hand, both to say goodbye and to acknowledge he's heard all the jokes and farewells. He passes through the inner door into a narrow hallway.

The walls, floor, and ceiling are black. Reggie continues walking straight ahead, towards a small room that sits in the center of the habitat and connects each of its six chambers. The entrance to the room is a white metal door with one word in black writing angled across the front. It says, Stargaze. For all the wish-granters, this is their favorite room in the entire habitat.

The walls, floor, and ceiling are black. Reggie continues walking straight ahead, towards a small room that sits in the center of the habitat and connects each of its six chambers. The entrance to the room is a white metal door with one word in black writing angled across the front. It says, Stargaze. For all the wish-granters, this is their favorite room in the entire habitat.

The walls, floor, and ceiling are black. Reggie continues walking straight ahead, towards a small room that sits in the center of the habitat and connects each of its six chambers. The entrance to the room is a white metal door with one word in black writing angled across the front. It says, Stargaze. For all the wish-granters, this is their favorite room in the entire habitat.

It is their way to travel to Earth. Reggie doesn't know how it works. It's the power of the stars. He walks into a six-sided room with a ceiling so tall he couldn't begin to guess its height. In the center of the room is an oval-shaped pod. It's open and it seems as if it's waiting for him. Reggie can see a comfortable-looking seat and armrests inside the pod.

It is their way to travel to Earth. Reggie doesn't know how it works. It's the power of the stars. He walks into a six-sided room with a ceiling so tall he couldn't begin to guess its height. In the center of the room is an oval-shaped pod. It's open and it seems as if it's waiting for him. Reggie can see a comfortable-looking seat and armrests inside the pod.

It is their way to travel to Earth. Reggie doesn't know how it works. It's the power of the stars. He walks into a six-sided room with a ceiling so tall he couldn't begin to guess its height. In the center of the room is an oval-shaped pod. It's open and it seems as if it's waiting for him. Reggie can see a comfortable-looking seat and armrests inside the pod.

He's only traveled to Earth in this manner five times before over the course of multiple decades. His steps towards the pod and its comfortable-looking seat are shaky, and his attempt to lift himself up is a little clumsy. But when he's settled in the seat, the pod closes in on itself, like a shellfish preparing to sleep in its underwater shelter.

He's only traveled to Earth in this manner five times before over the course of multiple decades. His steps towards the pod and its comfortable-looking seat are shaky, and his attempt to lift himself up is a little clumsy. But when he's settled in the seat, the pod closes in on itself, like a shellfish preparing to sleep in its underwater shelter.

He's only traveled to Earth in this manner five times before over the course of multiple decades. His steps towards the pod and its comfortable-looking seat are shaky, and his attempt to lift himself up is a little clumsy. But when he's settled in the seat, the pod closes in on itself, like a shellfish preparing to sleep in its underwater shelter.

The seat warms a little under his touch, like the most comfortable of recliners in a spa. It means he's on his way. And just a few moments later, the pod chirps. He's arrived. Reggie releases a slow, calming breath. The pod opens and his breath catches in his chest just as he's inhaling another dose of oxygen. A bright light from a distant star warms his skin.

The seat warms a little under his touch, like the most comfortable of recliners in a spa. It means he's on his way. And just a few moments later, the pod chirps. He's arrived. Reggie releases a slow, calming breath. The pod opens and his breath catches in his chest just as he's inhaling another dose of oxygen. A bright light from a distant star warms his skin.

The seat warms a little under his touch, like the most comfortable of recliners in a spa. It means he's on his way. And just a few moments later, the pod chirps. He's arrived. Reggie releases a slow, calming breath. The pod opens and his breath catches in his chest just as he's inhaling another dose of oxygen. A bright light from a distant star warms his skin.