 What would have happened if Phil had gone on the mission?
Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science Fiction December 1955. Phil Conover pulled the zipper of his flight suit up the front of his long, thin body and came into the living room. Yes, I'm sure you did," she said, finishing the ritual; but her voice broke, and she turned her head away. If anything could go wrong, they wouldn't be sending me; you know that. Nothing would ever be right with me again if I didn't go. "Phil, if you go, I won't be here when you get back—if you get back. No matter how much I love you, I just couldn't take that, Phil.
 He would still have been disappointed after fulfilling his dream because of how things ended with Mary.
 Mary would have forgiven him for following his dreams and they would work together to continue their relationship.  His anger would've caused him to make a mistake that would have ended in his death.  He would have been ecstatic to finally have lived his dream, and gone on to live his life.  He would still have been disappointed after fulfilling his dream because of how things ended with Mary.