Fresh Air Fiend

"Fresh Air Fiend" by Kris Neville is a science fiction story set on a remote satellite where a man battles advanced liguna fever; his life is in the hands of Hertha, a native woman who provides his essential care. The tale explores the crushing loneliness of space and the will to survive in an environment that doesn't care whether you live or die. As the protagonist weakens from his illness, he depends on Hertha to gather plants from outside their dwelling, which filter and renew the air they breathe to survive; it’s during this time he reflects on life back on Earth. Their relationship explores themes of reliance, the pursuit of control in the absence of any, and a strange kind of affection developing amidst the increasing likelihood of their demise together.