“Are you sure you’re ready for this Kelly?” his tone was
almost uneasy, like he didn’t have faith in me.
“Of course I’m sure, I’ve been training for this for a long
time now”. Truth was, I was scared to death, but I was also excited. We’ve
heard of men walking on the moon, but never a woman. I’m going to be the first
woman to walk on the moon… no pressure right? In a few days I’ll be on the
moon, everyone will be talking about it; it’ll hit news casts, billboards,
everyone will know who I am and what I accomplished. I could care less about
the publicity though, the fact that I’m able to do something this extreme, it
just the most amazing feeling. It’s a very long process to be given the green
flag to go up, but once you pass all the tests and training, once you’re at the
stage that I’m in right now, it’s truly an amazing feeling.
A few days before launch, I couldn’t be for antsy, every
nerve in my body is a live wire. There’s no room for mistake though, no room
for even the slightest miscalculation; everything has to be perfect. It’s now
time to say my goodbyes to my one, true loves. I crouch down on one knee to get
down to eye level with them.
“Mommy’s going to miss you guys very much, but I’ll be back
as soon as you guys can say stinky feet!” Both of their little faces lit up,
with both sides of their mouths almost touching their eyes. It truly is amazing
to see them so happy. I gave both of my blonde haired, blue eyed, baby boys a
hug and a kiss. Then I reached up for Kal. I didn’t really need to say
anything, we had our moment away from the kids a little earlier.
“I love you” I simply whispered in his ear.
“Forever and always”. He replied, his voice is so soft, yet
it never fails to give me chills.
“OK guys, my cabs here so I have to go, bye now”. I gave
them all one last smile and left them at once.
“Hey Kelly, ready to get started?” Bill was my oldest friend
which also happened to be my colleague.
“You bet!” I could no longer hide the enthusiasm, my voice
betrayed me once again.
“Haha good. First we’ll run through a rehearsal again, just
to make sure you have everything down. Then you’ll get some sleep to prepare
for the big day!”
The rehearsal ran smooth, needless to say. I lay in bed wide
awake. It’s almost impossible to sleep knowing that I’ll be in space in less
than 24 hours! As nerve racking as it is, I have to sleep in order to actually
function tomorrow. I faded into a daze in less than 30 seconds, guess I was more
tired than I thought.
I glanced at the clock when my alarm sounded. 4:00 am, and
the fun begins. I pull myself up, and make my way to the bathroom to brush my
teeth and wash my hair. Saliva filled my mouth all at once and I hurled over
the toilet bowl, clenching and heaving. Ugh, must be the nerves.
When I walk into the laboratory I guess I looked kind of
green because Bill immediately ran to my side.
“Are you OK? You don’t look so good” his eye brows joined
together and his lips spread apart.
“Yes, Yes I’m fine ya weirdo” I playfully punch his arm to
reassure him of my words.
“OK, they need to on deck ASAP”. He’s relaxed a bit now, but
still on edge. Maybe it was because his best friend is going to attempt to make
it to the moon. Why am I eve saying attempt? I WILL make it to the moon!
“Yes sir!” I leave him at once and find my crew.
They had already done a security check and everything was
good to go. I’ve never really been good at goodbyes but this was only goodbye
for a while, when the speeches were over and all was done and said I got into
the space shuttle, The EstroLight.
I’m all buckled in and my nerves couldn’t be more active
right now. We ran through all the checks in the shuttle once more before the
launch. Before I know it the countdown begins. Too late now, there’s no backing
out, I’m going to be the first female to land on the moon, how many people get
to say that? Not very many- OK stop Kelly, keep your head in the game. Don’t
lose concentration. The EstroLight starts to shake as lift off begins. Here we
go. Breath. Breath. One two one two, repeat. And we’re off!
Before a know it I land on the
moon in one piece. It took a few days, but they went by so fast it was unbearably
fast! Thank goodness they gave me a camera to catch it all on film. The
EstroLight lands perfectly, and the door opens. Wow what a sight! My first
instinct was to go exploring, my inner 5 year old was released. My first step on the moon was the most
powerful, most unforgettable experience ever.
As I walk a few feet (more like
bounce/float) and I notice a strange marking in the sand. With the camera in
one hand and a flash light in the other, I look around. I’m trembling now, what
on earth could this print be? It’s not possible, it can’t be a footprint… can
it? No nonsense. I point the camera back down to observe the print again. Not
possible… All of a sudden I hear something in the distance, I quickly point the
camera and the flash light back up to see what’s there and its running towards
me! I’s so fast by the time I turn around it already has me, clenched to my
space suit. A rather strange noise is escaping its mouth, like a growl almost.
Before I know it, it has my oxygen tank in its hands. As I’m running and
struggling to ditch this thing I point the camera towards it, hey if this
things going to kill me I might as well get it on tape right? I reach down and
grab a rock to stab the creature on my back, it falls to the ground and I have
just enough time to reach the shuttle. I page Huston immediately.
“H…huston, we have a promlem…” it
was getting harder and harder to keep my eyes open, and I realized at once,
this was dying, it must have bitten me or something.
“What is it?!” I hear on the
line, “what’s going on Kelly”
“Some… thing got me Huston… I’m
down…”
I heard him curse on the other
line,
“Jesus Kelly, I’m sorry” defeat
was in his voice.
“I’m coming back now, prepare for
launch” I’m getting weaker and weaker by the second.
“I’m sorry Kelly, but you’re not
coming back. We’ll stay on the line with you though until... you know” He
choked on his last words.
“Who am I speaking with?” I’ve
accepted the reality of this situation by now.
“George” he says abruptly.
And all at once the creature is
back, standing at the doorway of the shuttle. The EstroLight. My baby, and it’s
all gone, everything’s over.
