When the dome to the observatory opens, it s like coming home or running into the arms of someone you love. My brother Mason likes to say that I was born into the wrong species. That my soulmate resides somewhere in space. That I spend more time looking at space than I do at earth. But he s wrong. If I were to be born an alien it would be different, I wouldn t see space the way I see it now. It s the fact that everyday I go to work I get to travel to different planets, stars. Ever since I ve been little I ve always dreamt of getting a closer look into the unknown. That s why I became an astronomer, to escape from earth. It took a total of 10 years of college and two years to get my associates degree in diesel mechanics.
You see, I ve always been a pretty ordinary person. I grew up with both of my parents in a small city and went to a public school. I ve never gotten along with my parents very well. They re both dead now.
I ve always been outgoing, a class clown, optimistic in a way that's almost ignorant. Almost. I was everybody's friend. I grew up with my older brother, who I ve never gotten along with. He is not outgoing and wouldn't go out in public with me in fear of judgement from others. It s been that way since we were young. My parent always tried to convince me otherwise but it was obvious. He would never have friends over to the house. Matter of fact, he was never home himself; never pas able to be around me. So despite thinking I grew up normal, I know that there is something different about me, I m not sure what that is. But family is family and we d both do anything for each other. At least I would him.
I ve always been outgoing, a class clown, optimistic in a way that's almost ignorant. Almost. I was everybody's friend. I grew up with my older brother, who I ve never gotten along with. He is not outgoing and wouldn't go out in public with me in fear of judgement from others. It s been that way since we were young. My parent always tried to convince me otherwise but it was obvious. He would never have friends over to the house. Matter of fact, he was never home himself; never pas able to be around me. So despite thinking I grew up normal, I know that there is something different about me, I m not sure what that is. But family is family and we d both do anything for each other. At least I would him.
After I finish some papers on the satellite I m assigned to babysit I close the dome. Once it s completely closed I heave a sad sigh. Before I can go down the stairs I hear the emergency sirens blare. Confused I open the dome again, warm air hitting my face, blowing my wavy, dark red hair out of my face. After my parents death a month ago I dyed it red and got it cut into an even bob with my bangs. I grab the weakest telescope off of it s stand stand to get a good look at the city that is about a mile away from me. I push my glasses up into my my hair and look into the scope. Even from here I can hear the sirens of firetrucks, police cars, and ambulances. When I look into the scope I can see cars lined up on the highway, heading towards the town over.
People are standing outside of their cars. What the hell is going on? I jerk the scope away from my eye when I hear a sonic boom coming from the city. The large explosion came from the jet from above the city. The large mushroom of fire raises from the middle of the city. The park I used to run away to when thing would become too much with my parents.
I realize that my brother is at home right now, still in the city. We don t live near the explosion but I have no idea what s going on down there. I close the dome, grab my bag and leave. I shove the telescope in my belt loop, just in case. I run down the stairs speedily, the tail of my lab coat whipping behind me. When I reach outside I turn around and fumble to lock the Observatory. I get into my red jeep (that my father kindly left in his will) and stick my keys into the ignition. Throwing the key to the Observatory in the glove box I race out of there. I don t even bother with the highway, knowing that it's packed full of vehicles ready to leave Cynthiana. I tap my hands anxiously on the wheel as I drive into the city, or should I say chaos? To my left there is a group of people with blood covering them trying to corner a couple that looks terrified. I usually would have stopped and done something, but in this case I couldn t. When I reach about a block away from my house I see a flash of blue before the world turns black.
I wake up with a gasp. Looking around while feeling uneasy, I see a blue Cadillac that I smashed into. Oh shit, I hit the driver's side. I see a body slumped against the steering wheel but I can t tell if they re still breathing or not. I open the door and step out. Hit by a sudden nausea and dizziness I fall over and heave out stomach acid. Stomach acid? That doesn t make sense, I ve eaten today. Then it dawns on me; I ve no idea how long I ve been out. Minutes, Hours, Days? I check my watch but I see it s broken during the crash. It s early morning, and the streets deserted. Something makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It s the noise. It s gone completely silent. There are no birds chirping or the usual buzz of the cars on the highway that s nearby. I can still see the smoke rising from where the explosion had happened. Cautious, I stand to as I walk towards my house. I killed a man. My house; unharmed and empty. I checked all the rooms in the house and there is no sign of my brother. I sigh in relief when I find all his clothes missing and a bunch of food from the pantry gone too. He ran. My brother is resourceful, he made it through all the chaos, I know it. For what reason he ream, I'm not sure of. What I am sure of is that I need to go to the hospital..g off most of the flowage. I can feel all the colour leave my face. I can feel myself going into shock. After twenty minutes of standing here, trying not to go into shock, I take a scarf that I found under my seat and tie it above the wound as tight as I can. I curse under my breath. I attempt to walk again, finding great difficulty in keeping my balance. I remember my dad had a limp so he kept a cane behind his seat. I find it with little to no problem. This should do, it ll have to. Before I leave I grab the key to the observatory and throw it in my bag and begin the one block hike to my house. When I pass the Cadillac the driver to the car, who I had forgotten about, starts to growl and snap it's teeth at me. I begin to walk closer. Hey, is everything alright? I yell out, only a yard away. I notice the pale, veiny skin before I notice his pale eyes. Jesus. I mutter. I must be losing it. I take my cane and poke his (it s?) face. He snaps his teeth towards me as if he were trying to eat me. What the hell? I speak quietly. The seatbelt is holding it hostage so I leave him where he is. I begin to cry softly as I walk towards my house. I killed a man. My house; unharmed and empty. I checked all the rooms in the house and there is no sign of my brother. I sigh in relief when I find all his clothes missing and a bunch of food from the pantry gone too. He ran. My brother is resourceful, he made it through all the chaos, I know it. For what reason he ran, I'm not sure of. What I am sure of is that I need to go to the hospital.
I notice my brother took his car (which is a good sign he's alive.) I walk to the garage with great difficulty. I know that there's my fathers Harley in here somewhere. I find it at the front in all it's red glory. After a couple weak tries of starting trying to start it up it comes to life. I almost fall over attempting to walk it our but eventually I get the strength to kick off and head to the hospital.
You see, I ve always been a pretty ordinary person. I grew up with both of my parents in a small city and went to a public school. I ve never gotten along with my parents very well. They re both dead now.
I ve always been outgoing, a class clown, optimistic in a way that's almost ignorant. Almost. I was everybody's friend. I grew up with my older brother, who I ve never gotten along with. He is not outgoing and wouldn't go out in public with me in fear of judgement from others. It s been that way since we were young. My parent always tried to convince me otherwise but it was obvious. He would never have friends over to the house. Matter of fact, he was never home himself; never pas able to be around me. So despite thinking I grew up normal, I know that there is something different about me, I m not sure what that is. But family is family and we d both do anything for each other. At least I would him.
I ve always been outgoing, a class clown, optimistic in a way that's almost ignorant. Almost. I was everybody's friend. I grew up with my older brother, who I ve never gotten along with. He is not outgoing and wouldn't go out in public with me in fear of judgement from others. It s been that way since we were young. My parent always tried to convince me otherwise but it was obvious. He would never have friends over to the house. Matter of fact, he was never home himself; never pas able to be around me. So despite thinking I grew up normal, I know that there is something different about me, I m not sure what that is. But family is family and we d both do anything for each other. At least I would him.
After I finish some papers on the satellite I m assigned to babysit I close the dome. Once it s completely closed I heave a sad sigh. Before I can go down the stairs I hear the emergency sirens blare. Confused I open the dome again, warm air hitting my face, blowing my wavy, dark red hair out of my face. After my parents death a month ago I dyed it red and got it cut into an even bob with my bangs. I grab the weakest telescope off of it s stand stand to get a good look at the city that is about a mile away from me. I push my glasses up into my my hair and look into the scope. Even from here I can hear the sirens of firetrucks, police cars, and ambulances. When I look into the scope I can see cars lined up on the highway, heading towards the town over.
People are standing outside of their cars. What the hell is going on? I jerk the scope away from my eye when I hear a sonic boom coming from the city. The large explosion came from the jet from above the city. The large mushroom of fire raises from the middle of the city. The park I used to run away to when thing would become too much with my parents.
I realize that my brother is at home right now, still in the city. We don t live near the explosion but I have no idea what s going on down there. I close the dome, grab my bag and leave. I shove the telescope in my belt loop, just in case. I run down the stairs speedily, the tail of my lab coat whipping behind me. When I reach outside I turn around and fumble to lock the Observatory. I get into my red jeep (that my father kindly left in his will) and stick my keys into the ignition. Throwing the key to the Observatory in the glove box I race out of there. I don t even bother with the highway, knowing that it's packed full of vehicles ready to leave Cynthiana. I tap my hands anxiously on the wheel as I drive into the city, or should I say chaos? To my left there is a group of people with blood covering them trying to corner a couple that looks terrified. I usually would have stopped and done something, but in this case I couldn t. When I reach about a block away from my house I see a flash of blue before the world turns black.
I wake up with a gasp. Looking around while feeling uneasy, I see a blue Cadillac that I smashed into. Oh shit, I hit the driver's side. I see a body slumped against the steering wheel but I can t tell if they re still breathing or not. I open the door and step out. Hit by a sudden nausea and dizziness I fall over and heave out stomach acid. Stomach acid? That doesn t make sense, I ve eaten today. Then it dawns on me; I ve no idea how long I ve been out. Minutes, Hours, Days? I check my watch but I see it s broken during the crash. It s early morning, and the streets deserted. Something makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It s the noise. It s gone completely silent. There are no birds chirping or the usual buzz of the cars on the highway that s nearby. I can still see the smoke rising from where the explosion had happened. Cautious, I stand to as I walk towards my house. I killed a man. My house; unharmed and empty. I checked all the rooms in the house and there is no sign of my brother. I sigh in relief when I find all his clothes missing and a bunch of food from the pantry gone too. He ran. My brother is resourceful, he made it through all the chaos, I know it. For what reason he ream, I'm not sure of. What I am sure of is that I need to go to the hospital..g off most of the flowage. I can feel all the colour leave my face. I can feel myself going into shock. After twenty minutes of standing here, trying not to go into shock, I take a scarf that I found under my seat and tie it above the wound as tight as I can. I curse under my breath. I attempt to walk again, finding great difficulty in keeping my balance. I remember my dad had a limp so he kept a cane behind his seat. I find it with little to no problem. This should do, it ll have to. Before I leave I grab the key to the observatory and throw it in my bag and begin the one block hike to my house. When I pass the Cadillac the driver to the car, who I had forgotten about, starts to growl and snap it's teeth at me. I begin to walk closer. Hey, is everything alright? I yell out, only a yard away. I notice the pale, veiny skin before I notice his pale eyes. Jesus. I mutter. I must be losing it. I take my cane and poke his (it s?) face. He snaps his teeth towards me as if he were trying to eat me. What the hell? I speak quietly. The seatbelt is holding it hostage so I leave him where he is. I begin to cry softly as I walk towards my house. I killed a man. My house; unharmed and empty. I checked all the rooms in the house and there is no sign of my brother. I sigh in relief when I find all his clothes missing and a bunch of food from the pantry gone too. He ran. My brother is resourceful, he made it through all the chaos, I know it. For what reason he ran, I'm not sure of. What I am sure of is that I need to go to the hospital.
I notice my brother took his car (which is a good sign he's alive.) I walk to the garage with great difficulty. I know that there's my fathers Harley in here somewhere. I find it at the front in all it's red glory. After a couple weak tries of starting trying to start it up it comes to life. I almost fall over attempting to walk it our but eventually I get the strength to kick off and head to the hospital.