Return To Stardust

#47 - It was unlikely that Major Tom would reenter the atmosphere where he would then burn up as he fell to Earth.

Thank you, Subscribers! My Storyletter is growing. 

For my newer Subscribers, here is an earlier post -

Here is this week’s song – “Home to You” – on my CD – REMNANTS 

Below is my Short Story entry to the Lunar Awards Season Two. 

----------------------

      RETURN TO STARDUST 

It was unlikely that Major Tom would reenter the atmosphere where he would then burn up as he fell to Earth. More likely, he would skim the outer limits and continue into the deeper reaches of the solar system. 

The tether line holding him to the International Outer-Space Station, the IOSS, malfunctioned and his communication link to the ship failed. His jet pack, after its initial ignition, to be used for an emergency return to the ship such as was now needed, also failed.  

It only served to push him away from the Station. It was an unheard of and highly unlikely trifecta of events that put the Major into an orbit of his own.

As these events happened abruptly, it was unknown to the Major if those aboard the IOSS were affected by similar problems. All looked well, but all was silent.  

He was moving away from the Station. No one would be coming for him. There is no recovery vehicle aboard the Station. Major Tom was now officially the first man to be lost in space while still alive. It was done and there would be no rescue.  

Soon, he would run out of oxygen, lose consciousness, and suffocate. He would travel through time and space alone and forever. 

The world below would know the situation. His spacewalk was being televised live and all the activities aboard the IOSS were monitored. 

His heart was torn knowing the shock and grief his family would suffer. There was nothing he could do for them. The scream welling up inside him would be for what? To whom? He was numb to the reality at hand. 

Tom rationalized that his family would recover in time, as all do following tragedy, but it would leave its mark on them. They would be well taken care of, and it comforted him greatly.   

He felt oddly elated that he would die at the apex of his career and doing what he most loved. And how fortunate he was to have had friends he admired, and their inspiration.  

With the knowledge of his certain end, came a calmness he would not have thought possible. 

Perhaps one future day his body might be recovered and brought back to Earth. He thought it best if he was just left in space. To return to stardust. Surely his pressurized suit would at some point be compromised. 

The distance between himself and the IOSS increased. He and the ship, and the moon, like dancers on a ballroom floor, tripped the light fantastic about the Earth. As he ever so slowly rotated on his own axis away from the direct light of the sun the stars blanketed the expanse so many and vivid, he couldn’t pick out the once familiar constellations.  

Such beauty and clarity framed his life as it flashed before his eyes. 

He saw his beautiful wife, and when after being married in an apple orchard on the outskirts of Sebastopol, they took off on his motorcycle for their honeymoon. 

His daughter, his oldest, on her first date to the prom. How beautiful she was. 

His son, just learning that his father was an astronaut. Tom had bought him a model of Elon Musk’s midnight cherry red Tesla Roadster, with Starman, that had recently been launched into space. He loved it. 

When he was accepted as an astronaut, and how proud his father was. His mother, always his champion and so caring, yet reticent regarding his wanting to fly. He wanted to tell her he was okay.  

The mix of tears, happy and sad, blurred his vision.  

Embracing his family and friends in an all-encompassing hug, he was ready to let go.

Time sped up and slowed down in the same moment. He stared eyes wide-open into a blackness brilliantly white, spellbound, resting in peace.  

** 

Something caught his eye. Blinking and regaining focus, he saw it was coming at him in bounding leaps of speed. Nearer and nearer, it came, and Tom thought it would run him over. It was red. 

Just as it was about to hit him, it veered to the side and screeched to a stop leaving tire marks on the fabric of space.  

It was the Roadster. 

Flabbergasted, Tom called out, “Starman! Hey, buddy! Man am I glad to see you! Can you give me a lift?!”  

“Hello, Tom,” said Starman. “Hop in. I’ll take you Home.”  

------------------------ 

Thank you for reading!     

Please take a moment to like this post by clicking the heart icon below as this will allow others on Substack to more easily discover my content.    

Consider supporting my writing. Buy me a cup of coffee, or a cigar, or some of my music! Thank You to you who have! : ) 

See you next week.