She just saw the last person she wanted to see, a person who had ruined her past and is a stain on her loved and dearest memories. She rubbed her template on both sides of her head and leaned on a railing overlooking the busy promenade. “What happened in the past is the past. What happened in that time is to remain in that time,” Arwa muttered to herself and shrugged. She didn’t expect Yisuf to appear on the starbase and was neither mentally prepared for it. She takes a deep breath and lets the food vendors’ smells get into her nostrils as she breathes.

“Lieutenant, are you alright?” A voice came from behind her.

Arwa looked over her shoulder and saw a young Lieutenant standing there; it took her a brief second to realize who she had standing there. “Lieutenant Wilky, I am fine. It has been a … active day.” Arwa turned around to face the young woman. “What can I do for you? Or were you passing by?”

“I was just passing by actually, been exploring the event and having quite the time of my life, I have to admit,” Wilky responded with a soft smile. “I have to ask, sir; I was there with your talk about the future of counseling and how the return of the Borg and the Dominion had impacted the work. It was quite fascinating, but do you have any progression of what you want to do within Starfleet?” 

It is a valid question that has some weight in itself. People had their life planned out for what had to come or what they wanted to achieve. The future had a lot of paths to choose from, and Arwa had not stood a moment still to think about how it would affect her path. Crossing her arms, she thought momentarily, “It is a loaded question, Lieutenant.”

Wilky nodded in her direction. “I know, sir. If you do not have an answer, it is quite fine. But seeing you stand there on that stage and tell with passion and fire about the counseling findings and conclusion. I could almost not see you in something higher or more rewarding.” 

Nodding to her response, Arwa thought, “It is what we want to make from it. I am a mere human and far from being perfect. I have things I have unresolved, things that I still want to do, and I have a future in sight that I want to reach for.” Looking over the railing and smiling, seeing all the people, “I guess I would not have a specific goal in mind. I want to help people get through their difficult path of events that have happened to them.” 

Looking back at Wilky, “I never really saw myself as a woman to settle down on one spot. I take the challenge within my work field and where I can flourish in helping those who need it. I shine when people are feeling calm, helped, and heard.” 

“That sounds quite inspiring, sir.” Wilky was standing before her with glittering eyes. “I hope to become a valuable asset within medical, and I hope to get your guidance as long as you are here.” Wilky smiled softly. “Thought I do wonder if you are not more fit to carry out the position of being director of the counseling department if I might be so daring to propose such an idea.” 

Arwa blinked for a second at mentioning being a director of the whole department. It was already difficult to do her job as the department’s deputy. She tapped her chin for a second, thinking, “The idea never really crossed my mind, honestly, Lieutenant. But it is an interesting idea to go for. Dream big and catch it before it is gone, as they would say.” She smiled, looking at her.

“Yes! That would be a great motivation, sir. I think you could do so much more as a department director.” Wilky recollected the words she had just blurted out and quickly tried to recover herself, “I mean…not that you’re not doing anything less as you are now. But as a director, you have control over more tasks and your vision of how you would like to see things run. Maybe projects that could contribute to bigger things and research projects.” 

Smiling at Wilky, she raised her hands with a movement for her to calm down. “Breath, Lieutenant, I get what you are trying to say.” Arwa lowered her hands.” What the future will bring is uncertain; the path of becoming a director sounds quite appealing. I will not lie about that,” Arwa pointed out. “But I do hope to see more of the universe, and I have served on a starship, a frontier outpost, and now this base for quite some time. Maybe my next adventure will also be at a colony that is in the beginning stadium or bigger colonies. Who knows, I do dare to dream big.” 

“That is quite some big dreaming indeed. I wouldn’t know how to settle down on a colony,” Wilky thought aloud, crossing her arms and thinking about the possibilities. “It would be interesting to serve in a hospital and get a different perspective on dealing with people needing medical care.” 

Nodding at Wilky, “Indeed, but for now, I would settle on that first step. Potentially, becoming a director of counseling will be the required step for me to move on and gain a different set of skills. It would be interesting to move in that direction, and I could contribute more time to projects to understand society and how people think.” She pushes herself off the railing that she is leaning on. “You got me something to think about, my future, and I appreciate the timing as it was something I needed.” 

The young Lieutenant nodded in her direction. “Thank you, ma’am. I hope you will find calm in your mind about whatever is troubling you. May the prophets look over you.” The young Bajoran bows as she leaves Arwa behind. 

Take a moment to breathe and let it sink in. It did let her divert the troubling memories to something else. Something that she needed to think about also. Her future. Arwa turned around to look down at the people who were interacting with the vendors and such. “I have to face my past to move forward; I got to deal with this somehow.” 

“LIEUTENANT” Miwela rushes to her side seeing Arwa turn around to her “There you are….I have been looking everywhere for you…where were you?”

Arwa smiled softly at Miwela. “I was taking some time to think ….I guess about my future.” She smiled and patted her friend on the shoulder. “Let us go and get some food; I got hungry.” With that said, she moved to the stairs going down and left Miwela, surprised and confused, behind.