Birds were chirping, and the positive light of the sun was making the flowers bloom. Droplets of water shone on the leaves, and the bright environment displayed the natural beauty of Keryll, a part of the country Ambia on the planet Zureryo.

"Avi, Avi, wake up! You're getting late for school," Avi's mother called as she walked toward his room. But Avi was already dressed and ready. He was sitting with his friend Sam.

"Avi, what were you watching in the sky last night?" Sam asked.

"Oh, that. I saw a bear-like constellation," Avi replied.

"Bear-like? Whoa, I've never heard of that! You should've called me too," Sam said with excitement.

"He can call you next time. Right now, it's time for school," Avi's mother said calmly.

"Good morning, Amma. Good morning, Aunty," both boys greeted politely.

"Good morning. Come, have breakfast first, then you can go," she replied.

It was another usual morning in the family. The household had four members—Avi, his parents, and Sam, who lived with them. Avi's father was a scientist, which sparked Avi's deep interest in science and astronomy. He passed this curiosity on to Sam as well. Together, they studied, played, researched, and learned about science through books, their surroundings, their teachers, and, of course, Avi's father.

Avi dreamed of exploring another planet. He wanted to experience what life might be like beyond their world.

After breakfast, Avi and Sam went to school. Later, once the day was done, they climbed to the terrace again to watch the sky through their telescope.

"Avi, I know you love watching planets and the night sky—but why? What makes you so interested?" Sam asked.

"Every star that looks like a sparkling dot from here has a long story," Avi explained. "I try to imagine what kind of stories they hold. I want to explore them."

"Interesting. So, what are you watching right now?"

"Oh, it's one of Jery's moons. Studies say it has the possibility of life," Avi said.

"Strange. Jery is the biggest planet in our solar system, yet it has no life. But its moon might? I wonder how big Jery is compared to our Sun, or even the universe," Sam said curiously.

"Yes, it's so complex," Avi continued.

At that moment, Avi's father joined them. "The more you explore, the more confused you'll become. We have our limitations. The universe keeps changing its form—it will continue to do so. I don't think we'll ever truly live somewhere else in our solar system. It's impossible."

"Come, dinner is ready," he added.

Sam frowned a little. "Avi, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Isn't Uncle a scientist himself? Why does he keep demotivating you?"

Avi laughed. "No, he's not demotivating me. It does seem impossible. He told me once that there are so many obstacles in space exploration—that even the smallest error can lead to complete failure."

"Brother, leave it. I'm fine here in this world—you should be too," Sam said.

Avi laughed again.

"Come, let's have dinner," Sam added.

"Yes, I'm coming," Avi replied.

Sam went to eat, but Avi stayed behind, staring at the stars. "Sorry… but I have to take the risk. I'll make the impossible possible," he whispered to himself.

Avi was a 15-year-old boy, determined to achieve his dream of exploring space. An introvert, intelligent and kind, he was willing to go to any length to achieve his goal—even if it meant going against his family. Sam, the same age, sadly had no family of his own. Cheerful by nature, he trusted only Avi and his parents, who had always given him love and care. He hadn't thought much about his future—he only wanted to spend good times with Avi and his family.

Avi's mother was caring and loved both Avi and Sam deeply. But she worried about Avi's selfless and careless nature. She wished he would give up the idea of space exploration, stay close to her, carry on his father's legacy, and eventually find a life partner.

Avi's father was strict and straightforward. He didn't hesitate to scold Avi—or even Sam—if needed. Like Avi's mother, he wanted a safe and steady life for his son.

Avi, however, wasn't much of a talker. He disliked unnecessary small talk and valued his time. But he always listened to Sam's silly chatter—because sometimes, even his silliness made sense.

The two boys had been inseparable since the age of four. When they first met, Sam was wandering around, looking lost.

"Whom are you looking for?" Avi asked.

"Food," Sam replied shyly.

Avi smiled. "Come with me."

He took Sam home. When Avi's parents asked who Sam was, Avi replied confidently, "He's my brother."

Later, Avi's parents discovered that Sam's family was unknown. They searched everywhere but found nothing. Though they didn't officially adopt him—fearing the financial burden and possible misunderstandings between an adopted and biological child—they accepted him as one of their own. Sam stayed at a nearby orphanage but spent most of his time with Avi's family, who remained his only source of love and belonging.

© Suika

From that day, Avi and Sam became inseparable—best friends, brothers in every sense. Yet, despite their bond, Avi’s family and even Sam stood against his dream. Only two people truly supported him: his teacher, Sir Terek, and his friend Faraya.

Sir Terek saw a spark in Avi that even his parents had yet to recognize. He poured his time into teaching Avi advanced concepts, preparing him for challenges far beyond the classroom. Together, teacher and student pushed each other higher.

Faraya, two years older than Avi, shared his love for the stars. But unlike him, she never had the courage to pursue it—her family had other plans. So, she began to see her dream reflected in Avi. She gave him everything she could: her encouragement, her wisdom, her quiet strength.

Seven years passed. Avi was accepted into a prestigious institute in a foreign country for a space program. Against their wishes, his parents and Sam eventually supported his decision. Sam pursued a career in architecture, while Avi prepared for his greatest leap. Still, his parents wished for him to marry before leaving, fearing they might never see him again.

Avi wished to marry Faraya. But soon, he discovered the painful truth—her family had already arranged her marriage. She left him a letter that shattered his heart.

---

The Letter

Dear Avi,

I sometimes wish I had been born the same age as you, into your family, with a best friend like Sam. I didn’t get any of those—but at least, I got you.

I still see my dream through your eyes. I believe in you more than I believe in myself. I know you can do it, Avi. You will.

By the time you read this, I will be married. Don’t cry—please don’t. You’re making me cry as I write, though I’m laughing through the tears too. Some things are not in our hands. I didn’t even try to convince my parents for you. Maybe everything happens for a reason.

Still, I will always carry your memory. You are my special friend. Don’t be clumsy, take care of yourself, and don’t cry anymore. You’ll find someone better.

Sending my love to Sam and your parents.

Farewell, Avi. I hope we meet again… maybe on another planet.

Yours truly,

Faraya

---

Sam had received the letter long ago but never shared it—until now.

“You’re showing this to me only now?” Avi asked, trembling.

Sam gasped. “I… I didn’t know what to do.”

“What to do?” Avi’s voice rose. “This letter was for me. You should’ve given it to me the moment you got it! Instead, you opened it first? Why, Sam?”

“No, Avi! I didn’t read it. I only saw the word ‘marriage.’ I panicked. I thought it might break your focus, that it might… become an obstacle to your dream.”

Avi’s eyes burned. “Obstacle? She was never an obstacle, Sam. How could you even think that?”

Sam fell silent, guilt crushing him.

Then Avi’s tone softened, but his words pierced deeper. “I’ve hidden something too. Tonight, I leave for the program. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you or my parents. If I saw your faces, I might never go. Please… take care of them for me. I don’t know when—or if—I’ll return.”

Sam’s voice cracked. “Why, Avi? Why must you go? I can’t do this alone! What am I supposed to tell Amma and Abba? Don’t leave us… please!”

Avi wiped his tears. “Sam, we can’t change destiny. You are my brother—you must stop calling them Uncle and Aunty. They’ve always seen you as their own son. Take care of them… take care of yourself. Goodbye, Sam.”

Sam wanted to stop him, but deep down he knew nothing could change Avi’s decision. That night, Avi disappeared into the unknown.

---

When Sam returned home, he addressed Avi’s parents for the first time as “Amma” and “Abba.” They were surprised—then quietly overjoyed. But when he revealed Avi’s departure, silence fell.

Avi’s father, usually stern, suddenly slapped Sam. “Is this how you act as my son? Letting your brother leave like that? You should have stopped him, dragged him back, called me! You failed us. You both…” His voice broke, and for the first time, tears filled his eyes.

Avi’s mother collapsed into sobs. “Why didn’t he meet his Amma before leaving? Why was he so cruel? Was his dream really more important than us?”

Sam had no answers—only tears to share. That night, grief filled the house like a storm.

Time crawled on. Slowly, they tried to adjust to life without Avi. His mother drifted through her days in a numb haze, clinging to a single fragile hope: that her son would return. His father masked his sorrow with silence, burying emotions under a strict exterior.

And Sam? The cheerful boy was gone. He became quieter, older in spirit.

One evening, Avi’s father called him to the terrace. “Come, Sam. It’s been a long time since I last touched this telescope. Let’s watch the stars together.”

They gazed at the sky, the same sky Avi once dreamed beneath. For a brief moment, they found comfort in the constellations.

But as Sam adjusted the telescope, his breath caught. There, among the stars, something flickered—unnatural, alive, almost calling his name.

“Abba,” Sam whispered, his voice trembling, “you need to see this…”

©Suika

“There’s a chit here—probably by Avi. He knew we’d check the telescope once,” Sam said.

“Yes, I know he wouldn’t leave everything like that. He definitely left a message behind. But why didn’t he tell you about this?”

“That’s because he trusted us. And maybe the message he left wasn’t supposed to be read back then.”

“You’re right, Sam. Let’s open it.”

Sam took out the chit from the telescope and read what was written:

> *“Sam, Abba, I apologize for leaving like that. It was hard for me to go in front of you all—I really couldn’t do it. I had to choose between my dream and my family. It was a tough decision, but I chose my dream. That doesn’t mean I will forget you, or that you will forget me. Even if we are far apart, we will always stay connected. Our bond is that strong.

Every human being has their destiny written somewhere. My destiny is this. I feel proud that I was born into a good family, with good friends and teachers who helped me reach this point. If everything goes well, I will be the first person to visit Jery. I know it sounds impossible, considering Jery’s environment and the resources available to me—but you never know until you try.

I know Amma will feel sad that I didn’t meet her before leaving. I am sorry for that. She would never have allowed me to go—it would have been too hard for her, and for me. She should be happy that she taught me bravery and good values, which are helping me keep going. Sam and Abba will always be with her. And me too, even if I am far.

Amma wanted to see my marriage. Maybe it wasn’t written for me, but Sam, at least you can do that. Maybe it will distract her mind from me. I believe you both will help her understand my feelings.

I will keep sending letters whenever I get the chance. Take care—I am always with you.”*

There was silence for a while.

Sam finally said, “If it makes Mother happy… I will do it.”

“I think this will be the best decision for now, Sam,” his father replied.

They explained Avi’s feelings to his mother. Then they began searching for a life partner for Sam.

Several months later, he was married. His parents felt relief and happiness—they were able to witness it, and they gave blessings to him and his wife. Time began to heal their wounds. Slowly, the family started to live with a new perspective.

---

June 26, 1907.

Avi had completed his spaceship after five years. He saved all his money for this project, and gathered some of the brightest minds in the world. One of his team members introduced him to technology that was unknown to anyone else. Avi kept the project secret from the outside world. At that time, people weren’t even aware such things could exist. Just four years earlier, humanity had only discovered that they could fly high in the sky. That discovery gave Avi the motivation to fly beyond the skies.

The spaceship was steampunk in design—small, cube-shaped, strange and beautiful. Oddly, Avi hadn’t searched for his team members; they had found him. He struck a deal with them: if they helped him build the spaceship, he would pay them in Zureryo’s currency.

Avi faced failure many times. Developing and using the resources was difficult. But he kept trying—days and nights spent researching. Thanks to his previous knowledge, and the futuristic knowledge he gained from his team members, Avi completed the project. It was beyond anyone’s imagination, almost unbelievable. Even his team members were shocked, because his understanding went further than what they had taught him. Avi had done it—efficiently and effectively.

On the night of June 26, they decided to take off. With their combined efforts, the spacecraft was ready. Within seconds of ignition, it left Zureryo’s atmosphere. Avi felt the cold environment, excitement mixed with anxiety. He could feel the pressure, the air resistance. The spacecraft passed the ozone layer. The sky turned dark blue, the air grew thin, then it reached the mesosphere. The freezing cold made the ship shudder. Avi recalled his training.

The next layer had no air, but the temperature spiked to two thousand degrees Celsius. The atmosphere was fading.

Suddenly, Avi realized—he had reached space.

© Suika