Adrift in Space

“What is space? It is the continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied. On earth where life is finite; space can be limited, measured, and maintained. Outside of our safe little bubble on earth, space is infinitely untamable, and I am about to go into it . . . . .”

As I open the hatch to the space station I’m in awe of the beautiful floating rock we call earth; so vibrant and calm amongst the unknown, hypnotizing me with its beauty. Breaking from my trance like state I turn away and look towards a damaged antenna remembering what I came here for. Slowly I begin to make my way into the darkness; my heart begins to race as I take in how truly endless it is.

“Being out here makes me so nervous” I say while clipping on to the anchor loops, “Okay,  just remember your breathing nice and slow; in, and out. If you can see your breath, you’re going too fast.”

A flash of light blinds me as the opposite end of the station explodes sending pieces of debris flying through space.

“OH MOTHERFUCKER!!!”.

In shock of what I just witnessed I hold on desperately to the support rods as they tremble ferociously.

“Fuck, okay, umm breathing, nice and slow; let’s move clip and and get back inside”.

My eyes lock onto a rapidly approaching shimmer that seemed to be heading straight for me. I fumble the clip unfastening the safety as I look up to see a piece of shrapnel barely miss me but clip my oxygen tank yanking me into space with tremendous force.

*¡PHEWM!* *TINK*

“AH!”

In a panic I begin reaching frantically to grasp onto anything in sight as I drift away from my salvation.

“I wasn’t fully unclipped” i think to myself joyfully in disbelief as I’m jolted back to the station.

“FUUUUUUUUUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!”

As I collide with the support rods I struggled to regain my grip. From the corner of my eye I see the main cabin explode sending my end of the station whirling; the centripetal force is too much for me to bare as I’m projected once again Into the darkness. Everything was a blur; my only sense of direction was the split seconds I could see the earth while spinning uncontrollably. Amongst the chaos I began to fixate on the anchor loop where my tether was attached, the only thing I could see clearly. My last hope of returning home.

A light reflected off of what seemed to be a sheet of metal flooding my helmet with intensity as it passed between myself and what was left of my salvation. It was as if time slowed down when I felt the tension from the tether slowly begin to give; stripping me of my sense of security. I watch helplessly feeling as though I can almost see each individual strand slowly being sliced before I’m sent hurling into space. I try to gain control of my breathing but the reality of what just happened begins to set In. The light begins to fade as the sight  of my fogged visor is drowned to complete darkness. I flail uncontrollably drifting ever further into the abyss; where the only thing that can be heard is the beat of my own heart.