Grand Prix (5th Place Finalist)

Leaving Orbit

He played a damn dirty trick, slipping that mickey into my drink.

“Go home.” He gave me a lopsided grin and a wink. “Give Sarah a kiss for me.”

“Oh no, you go home.” I replied, pointing a finger at him from around my glass of whiskey. “I won that coin toss fair and square.”

“Did not.”

“Did too,” I mumbled as my eyes slid shut. A few second later, I was unconscious and drooling on the table.

By the time I reached the station, he was gone.

I watched on the monitor as my best friend left orbit in the experimental craft I was supposed to be piloting.

“Amy!” He yelled into the comms as warning lights flashed and klaxons screamed in the control room. The craft’s engines were fused and uncontrollable -- he was leaving orbit.

“I’m here, Lee!”

“You should see the view!” Awe and fear were in equal measure in his voice. “I’m glad I won that coin toss.”

“You son of a bitch!” I cried, staring at the arc of his projected trajectory into the outer solar system.

“Give Sarah a kiss for me, Amy.”

“Lee!” I wailed for my friend.

Only static replied.