If she were to appear here from any time, I would still be unable to give her anything more than what I could give her before I arrived in this place. Our romantic involvement ended for a reason.

[ There's a finality to his words, but his focus moves back to the food he's preparing. He doesn't want to think about it. He's already hurt her. He cannot undo it. If the timeline remains unchanged, he will leave Starfleet and he will return to Vulcan. It is his duty and it is logical. The pain that causes him cannot be allowed to sway the decision any more than the pain of leaving behind Jim and the rest of the Enterprise. ]