26 July 2041 – United States Moonbase Onizuka, Peary Crater, Lunar North Pole
Tears of wonder trickled down Sabrina’s face as she gazed at the planet where she was born. It hovered just over the lunar horizon. Ad Astra's latest ship, Inceptus – Enterprise – sat behind her on MB Onizuka’s runway, waiting to bring her home as she tapped commands into her suit’s forearm interface.
“Hello?” her husband’s voice crackled over the link.
“Hey, love.”
“SABRINA! God, it’s good to hear your voice. How are you feeling?”
“I feel … like I’m standing in a dream.” She smiled behind her visor, the warmth of his voice reaching across the vast gulf between them. “It’s so surreal, so beautiful. I wish you were here to see it with me.”
“I see it through you,” he said softly. “Through every word, and through every breath. We’re all watching, you know. The whole world is watching.”
“I know. And I can feel it.” Her throat tightened. “But right now, I just want to share this moment with the people who matter most.”
A different voice interrupted.
“Mommy?”
“Hey, baby girl.” Sabrina’s heart clenched at the sound of her daughter’s voice. “How’s my starshine?”
“I miss you,” her daughter whispered. “When are you coming home?”
Sabrina blinked rapidly, trying to keep her vision clear.
“Soon, sweetheart. I promise. And when I do, I’ll tell you all about the stars up close.”
“Can you bring me a rock from the Moon?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Sabrina laughed.
Her son’s voice chimed in next, sounding a little older, more composed, as a five-year-old sometimes can, even though he was only a week or so older.
“Mommy, I saw the launch. It was awesome!”
“You think so?” she asked, a grin forming.
“Yeah. I want to do it too, someday.”
“You do?” she asked, her breath hitching.
“Of course. You’re the coolest astronaut ever!”
A tear slipped free, slowly falling in the one-sixth gravity inside her helmet.
“Thank you, sweetheart. That means more than you know.”
Her husband’s voice returned, filled with quiet pride.
“We love you, Sabrina.”
She exhaled, grounding herself in the sound of their voices, in the love that tethered her to home despite the vast distance.
“I love you all so much.”
And as she stood there, bathed in Earthlight, with the weight of human history and hope pressing gently upon her, she took a deep breath, savoring the moment, before switching comm channels.
“Hello?” a familiar voice sounded through her helmet’s speakers.
“Hey, Dad. It’s me.”
“Hey, Princess! How are you?”
“I made it, Dad. I made it.”
“You certainly did, Princess! Your mom and I are so proud of you, Sabrina. Everybody is.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your love and support through the years.”
“Sure, you could have. Remember that old quote? ‘The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a little longer.’ You would have gotten there. What’s … what’s it like, Princess?”
“I’m standing on the surface looking at the Earth right now … What a sight … Dad, do you remember the Rush song you played for me after that Shuttle launch way back when?”
“‘Countdown?’ Heck, I could sing it for you right now! It’s always been one of my favorite songs … Why do you ask?”
“I’ve had the last line playing over and over in my head while I stand here: ‘In fascination / With the eyes of the world we stare …’”
