Cosmonaut

CHAPTER 1 : The Distance between Worlds

SUMMARY:

...because every story begins with the end of another.

I guess after writing all of this, I realize I never really did much of anything. I suppose if there is any regret, it's that. Then again, it's not like I could do anything about it - I really wasn't good at much. Although, I suppose if there is something I did well it was dreaming. I dreamt big dreams. I was never smart enough, or strong enough, or skilled enough to do anything the way everyone wanted me to so I guess my dream of being a cosmonaut was a bit much, but I travelled the stars in my own way. I was never sure how to show you, but this is enough, I think. I always wondered if you thought I was great as I figured I could be. I hope you did, even just a bit.

You loved me once, too. More than him, I'm sure of it. I think about it all the time, though you probably don't remember ever feeling the way I do. Then again, you probably don't remember because it never really turned out that way.

Even so, it felt real to me.

I'm not making sense...

What I mean to say is that I dream about you too. You and me. All the time.

I still do.

Year 2112

Spring

The television buzzed:

...and the Mars Terraforming Project is progressing at a rapid pace. The first agricultural labourers will be expected to depart for the Red Planet in not much more than 3 months.

Outside, a rusty, old pickup truck rolled into the muddy driveway of a small country home in the middle of fields of barley. The sun was barely up, but its light was peeking through the horizon, giving the barley a sort of artificial incandescence.

A young girl stepped out and huffed. No one was waiting on the porch.

"Idiot, let's go!" She called out.

"Just a second... come look at the news. Come quick!"

The girl furrowed her eyebrows and grumbles to herself. This was the regular routine. She made her way into the front door and turned to the hunched figure in front of the television.

"What did I just say?"

"Wait Fiona, I just wanna see this next part! Just a few minutes, please!"

Experts have concluded that at the pace we are going, we will have completed the project in less than 4 years, beating the estimated time of the complete depletion of the ozone layer by a whole 14 years! This leaves us with ample time to transport the entire human population to our new home in space!

"Goddammit, Justin! You said that yesterday and we were late! We'll be late again today if you don't hurry up! Besides, we still have to pick up Sam, and his house is across town, so let's go!"

"Oh my god, relax, Fiona, please it's just school. Besides in 14 years, it won't even exist anymore..."

"If you knew how to count, you'd have realized that it would actually be 18 years, but regardless of whether it's 18 or 14, we'll have graduated before then! Life will continue whether it's here or on Mars or wherever!" She said between gritted teeth.

"Okay, okay fine," Justin snorted, "Uncle, we're leaving!"

He looked at her and raised his eyebrow, "Well, then what are you waiting for? Let's go already or we'll be late."