19
Entry no.6
Our final mission date is on October 30th, when we will officially launch from the Guiana Space Centre (GSC) in French Guiana.We have less than a month between us and the day that we defy the gravity of the Earth.We will have to trust each other completely to drift into space together in a large piece of metal machinery.But before the D-day, we have been given a week to visit our families, spend time with them and bid them a temporary farewell.And then we have to go to the space centre for the pre-flight quarantine.Pre-flight quarantine is when teams spend two weeks in a contained environment before our launch, to avoid contracting or spreading diseases in the space environment or to each other.
I booked my tickets to London today, and I am excited to set foot into my hometown after nearly a decade, seven years to be exact.I miss the bustling of the crowds, the glittering sunlight in the river on a summer day and the familiar smells of the Kingston market.More than anything else, I long to run into my parents’ arms and be tightly squeezed by Appa with his overenthusiastic hugs and to breathe in the smell of Mum’s rose-scented perfume.
I convinced Zara to come with me for a few days during her annual vacation.She was going to be in Cologne, but I couldn’t sit and watch her be alone in her house the entire time.I am going to show her around the town that raised me and take her to Cafe Leche to introduce her to mouthwatering pastries.
Darshan wanted to come too, but work has been keeping him busy.He is so happy doing what he does best – taking care of people and finding joy in connecting with humans.He was born to become a children’s psychologist.Everything he touches turns to magic, and he also has a boyfriend who takes care of him when he needs it the most.As much as Darshan can give to other people, he also deserves someone who pours the same amount of effort and love into him.
My body is here in Cologne, but my brain has been in Kingston ever since my flight tickets were confirmed.The days are going to be fast-forwarded in the blink of an eye, and before I know it, I’ll be sitting in the same backyard that Apollo and I used to watch the stars from.
PART THREE
PRESENT DAY
20
Cooper
The keys click undermy fingers as I type emails on my laptop for work.My inbox is pretty full considering that today is my day off.I try to skim through the spam emails, unnecessary subscriptions (promotional emails) and delete them so that I can stop being overwhelmed by the amount of mail to respond to.While I type my last response, Leo groans on the couch.He’s been restless for about an hour now because he wants to go out tonight, but I have been focused on work.
My lips slightly lift thinking about how he has put up with my need to overwork even when it’s not required.It’s also amusing how he has been patient for this long, even though he is a hyperactive person.I click send and turn around in my chair, when a throw pillow flies towards my face and smacks me.I wince from the momentary pain and narrow my eyes at Leo, trying to convey my displeasure.
He grins widely, all of his teeth showing.‘Sorry, I was trying to get your attention.I couldn’t possibly spend one more second on this couch.’
‘And I was going to say that I’m ready to go out.’I bite out the words.
‘That’s perfect,’ he says as he stands from the couch and grabs me by my arm and gets the key to my car from the entryway table.
We drive to the nearest Wetherspoons, and the whole way there, I am forced to listen to both Leo’s eclectic taste in music and his ten-minute-long speech about how clouds weigh a million pounds and other random topics.He is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to niche facts, and he takes me to many pub quizzes to practice.And this is one such trip to the pub.
After I park, we walk towards the entrance, and my stomach gnaws at me; it could be because I haven’t eaten in over six hours or because it feels like something big is about to happen.The air feels thick and uncomfortable as I push through the door.As I enter the pub, I spot someone familiar turned away from me.My head buzzes, the ground spins even though I haven’t yet sipped one drop of alcohol.I know exactly who it is; I know her like the back of my hand.She isn’t supposed to be here.She hasn’t been in Kingston in seven years.
