Oh, how I wish they could have stayed longer. I had almost forgotten that they were ever that young. Beautiful Sam, Daniel with the short ponytail, the Colonel before his hair went totally gray ... Teal’c, looking so completely ridiculous in those vintage ’60’s clothes.

I smiled bravely for them, but after they were gone I could no longer keep up the facade. God, how I miss them. They’ve been gone for so long now, and seeing them like that, so vibrant and alive, was almost more than I could take.

I wish I could have just sat down and talked with them, like we used to do a lifetime ago when I was a little girl. I wish I could have shown them things, advances we’ve made, foes we’ve conquered. So many things have changed since they fought their final battle.

Seeing them now, so long after they left, was harder than I could have imagined. Activating the Stargate and watching, for the last time, as they walked through was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to hold them and never let go, but I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to them.

Now, I linger in what long ago was the embarkation room, staring at the now-silent Stargate, almost wishing they will walk back through, but knowing they won’t.

I stand in the cold silence, and think of many things ... of how far we’ve come since 1999, of my own children and grandchildren, of the people I lost so long ago on my home planet ... but most of all, I think of the four people I just saw for the last time, of the people who gave me a chance to live.

I think of SG-1.