Summary

At the outset of ‘Sunlight Zone’, Miri thinks about the way that her wife, Leah, once described the ocean. After Leah returns from her research trip, Miri begins to think that alone is “somewhere you had to be left”, not somewhere you could go (4). She tries futility to contact the Centre but is put on hold and eventually the line is disconnected. Miri wants to support her wife’s reacclimatization to terrestrial existence, but Leah’s “refusal of help left [Miri] at first frustrated and subsequently rather resentful” (7). She feels powerless to help Leah as she clots the blood pouring from her nose, insisting that nothing is wrong, each morning.

Before the comms panel went out, Jelka and Leah smelled an odor reminiscent of burning meat. Matteo ignored their curiosity in the scent and asked Leah to help him find a signal. Much...