On the launch pad, a small rocket named Nova sat very still.
Her engines were ready.
Her fuel was full.
Her countdown clock said: T minus ten minutes.
Everything was ready.
Except Nova.
“I don’t want to go,” said Nova.
The engineers looked at each other.
“You’re a rocket,” said one.
“I know,” said Nova.
“Rockets go to space.”
“Space is very big,” said Nova. “And very dark. And I’ve never been.”
The countdown clock kept counting. 🚀
🌌 T Minus Five Minutes
The head engineer tried.
“You’ve been tested a hundred times. You’re ready.”
“Tests aren’t the same as actual space,” said Nova.
The chief scientist tried.
“Think of everything you’ll discover!”
“I’m thinking of all the dark,” said Nova.
The general tried a firm voice, which did nothing.
T minus two minutes.
Everyone looked at each other.
And then a small astronaut climbed up to Nova’s window.
Samuel. The youngest on the team. First mission.
🚀 Samuel and Nova
“I’m scared too,” said Samuel.
Nova’s engines flickered in surprise.
“You are?”
“Space is very big,” said Samuel. “And very dark. I’ve never been either.”
“Then why are you going?”
Samuel thought about it.
“Because scared and ready aren’t opposites,” said Samuel. “You can be both at the same time.”
T minus thirty seconds.
Nova looked at the sky above her.
Dark and full of stars.
Her stars.
Where she was made to go.
“Will you stay with me?” said Nova.
“The whole way,” said Samuel, climbing inside.
Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
WHOOOOOOOOSH.
Up they went.
Together.
Scared and ready.
Both at the same time. 🚀