I remember a cartoon from a children's science show about binary star systems: two stars, each starting on opposite sides of the screen, fly toward each other, and pass by each other. As they pass by, they slow down. They eventually turn around again and both head back to the center, accelerating.

Sometimes, binary star systems form a stable, repeating pattern. Like a clock that will last until the end of time. It's a beautiful thing to see in a telescope.

Other times, though, one star is heavier than the other. Made of denser matter. Stronger, more dominant. That star tears away pieces from the other every time they pass.

Gradually the second star disintegrates, and the first star gobbles it up.

The cartoon animation of one star destroying another was playing over and over in his mind while Shepherd drove home from work.

Shepherd loved Zara. He had always tried to show that by doing everything he could to support her. They moved across the country for her career. When the children were sick, he would race home from work. He made it work somehow when they didn't have enough money.

But it was never enough. No matter what.

Shepherd parked the car.

Now, though, it all looked different to him.

He looked at the lights in their house.

I'm dying inside. I'm withering. Disintegrating.

He didn't want to go inside and face her, but he did.

He could feel himself going into a weird zombie-life, sleepwalking state as he approached the door of the house.

Zara looked up from her phone. When Zara looks at him, he feels it. She's dissatisfied again. He barely hears what she's saying.

Then Shepherd sees it -- he sees particles floating away from his body, toward her while she complains about the house.

Shepherd says "I can't handle this anymore" quietly, under his breath. Nothing happens. Stardust floats from Shepherd to Zara.

She keeps going. He stops. He loves her! But he sees his own hand disintegrating in front of him.

"Zara, we can't do this anymore!"

And the dust stops.

She looks at him. He looks at her. She's no longer a star, taking him apart. He loves her. He doesn't know what the future looks like. But this has to stop. His stardust returns to him.