Astrid sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone in disbelief. She had just received the call that would change her life forever.
"Hello, Astrid Stone?" The voice on the other end of the line was professional and serious. "This is Dr. Rodriguez from the space agency. I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the Mars mission."
Astrid's heart skipped a beat. She had applied for the mission on a whim, never expecting to actually be chosen. But now, here she was, facing the opportunity of a lifetime.
"Are you there, Ms. Stone?" Dr. Rodriguez's voice pulled Astrid back to reality.
"Yes, yes, I'm here," Astrid stammered. "I'm just... I'm so excited!"
Dr. Rodriguez chuckled. "I can tell. But I must remind you that this is a one-way trip. You will be establishing a permanent human settlement on Mars."
Astrid's excitement was tempered by apprehension. She would be leaving everything and everyone she knew behind, possibly forever. But the thought of being part of such a historic and groundbreaking mission was too tempting to resist.
"I understand," she said finally. "I accept."
"Excellent. We will be sending you more information in the coming days. Congratulations, Ms. Stone. You are now one of the youngest astronauts in history."
Astrid hung up the phone and sat back on her bed, taking a deep breath. She couldn't believe it. She was going to Mars.
As she started to make plans for her departure, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. She would miss her family, her friends, and especially her boyfriend, Isaac. But she knew that this was an opportunity that she couldn't pass up.
With a determined look on her face, Astrid began to prepare for the journey of a lifetime. Little did she know that the challenges she would face on Mars would be far greater than she ever could have imagined. But for now, all she felt was excitement and a sense of purpose. She was going to be part of something bigger than herself, something that would change the course of history.
YOU ARE READING
The Gravity of Us
Science FictionA one-way ticket to Mars was just the beginning. In this gripping sci-fi romance, Astrid and Isaac fight to make their love last across the vast expanse of space and time.
