question:  How might the story's conclusion have differed if Phil, in the beginning of the story, had agreed to Mary's wish?
context: Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science Fiction December 1955. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Phil Conover pulled the zipper of his flight suit up the front of his long, thin body and came into the living room. And the faint lines around his dark, deep-set eyes were accentuated when he smiled at his wife. His wife was sitting stiffly on the flowered couch that was still not theirs completely. He came to her and touched his hands to her soft blond hair, raising her face until she was looking into his eyes. Yes, I'm sure you did," she said, finishing the ritual; but her voice broke, and she turned her head away. Phil sat beside her and put his arm around her small shoulders. If anything could go wrong, they wouldn't be sending me; you know that. I told you that we've sent five un-manned ships up and everyone came back without a hitch." "Mary, you know I can't back out now. Nothing would ever be right with me again if I didn't go. "I've got to get started, Mary. "Phil, if you go, I won't be here when you get back—if you get back. I won't be here because I won't be the wife of a space pilot for the rest of my life. No matter how much I love you, I just couldn't take that, Phil. She finished and took another cigarette from the pack on the coffee table and put it to her lips. "I wish you had told me this a long time ago, Mary," Phil said. "Yes, you did. I told you I could never be the wife of a space pilot. But I don't think I ever really believed it was possible—not until this morning when you said tonight was the take-off. "It isn't a dream.
output:  The conclusion would likely not have differed -- Phil would lose his sense of purpose and thus his vitality in a relationship
options:  The conclusion would likely not have differed -- Phil would lose his sense of purpose and thus his vitality in a relationship  Phil would have agreed to Mary's wishes, but left to go on the mission without telling here  Phil would eventually come to accept Mary's fear and let go of his dream to go to the moon  Phil would have tried to keep a positive attitude and wait his turn for the next mission