Evan C Wojtalewski - Pale Blue Dot

“Going home…” She said.  

“Aye,” muttered Dutch, a scruffy man whose wrinkly face hid behind a jungle of poorly kept facial hair, “but you better settle in. It’ll be ‘nother 7 months before you’ll walk on solid ground again.”  

Natasha showed a small, considerate smile, and turned back to face the view hole. The inky blackness of space lay mere inches before her, separated only by some well assembled aluminum (or at least she hoped it was). Their magnificent vessel coasted gracefully through the void, departing from a dusty red rock, 4th from the Sun. Mars. 

The ship had just begun its 7 month return journey to Earth: a place the crew had come to dearly miss. The 7 valiant members of the crew were the first to pioneer and step foot on another planet. A remarkable leap for humanity, and a milestone that was outlandish mere decades earlier. Despite this unparalleled honor, these 7 people found themselves on a totally new land full of mystery and thought only of home. Never before had it been so clear to them where they had come from. These thoughts flooded Natasha’s head and filled her with a sense of longing. Longing for where all humans belong. Before she could get fully sappy on herself, she heard footsteps approaching her. 

“Hey, we’re going to celebrate the take off. Got some old whiskey that Jacobs had smuggled onboard. Nasty stuff. You should join us.” A warm smile upon Yelena’s face did well to convince her. 

“Oh, you know me,” she sighed, “I never turn down a good drink.” 

She stood, and the two walked to the dining area where the remainder of the crew sat gathered around a table. The sun cast a blinking shadow repeatedly on the bottle of whiskey as it occasionally popped through the windows while the ring of the ship spun, providing a comfortable sense of gravity. The faces of 7 strangers laughed together, come to be friends across a grueling trip. Together they passed the months together and showed that even when millions of miles away from home people will still recreate that feeling in whatever way possible.  

After the long 7 months had passed, and the crew had developed some cabin fever, they yearned for the feel of good solid land once more. Natasha had just gotten up for the day and prepared herself in her quarters. After getting dressed she stepped out of her cabin and made her way to the living area. They should be arriving within the week. As she stepped into the living area she saw only Dutch there, standing in front of the large windows, a steaming mug in his hand. As she approached him she saw a resolute smile barely peeking through the crag of grey beard. Standing next to him, she looked out into space. For a while they said nothing, then she finally asked, 

“What are you smiling for, you old coot?” 

Dutch chuckled, then pointed out the window with  his free hand. “You see that pale blue dot?” 

She squinted, then noticed it. After a moment, emotion washed over her. “Earth…” 

“Aye.” 

There, amongst the speckled backdrop, lay a tiny, pale, blue dot. The Earth. Sanctuary for the only known life in the Universe. The place where people bicker and fight, where people laugh and play, where all history has unfolded, and where all call home. There, in the desolate void, it lay: fragile, yet magnificent. The utter scale dwarfs any person as they try to comprehend it, including Natasha. Never before had she felt so homesick. Looking upon her planet, her home filled her with a sense of yearning, and a sense of grief. The petty quarrels of men seemed so silly from such a perspective, and despite the unending human desire to conquer the unknown they always wish to return to where they belong. For Earth is the home of humanity, and to neglect that home would spell the end for not only oneself, but for all. After all, it’s the only place protecting us from that cold, unforgiving void. She would’ve continued with this melancholy thought, rather contently, if it were not for Dutch slurping loudly on his coffee, ruining the moment. He let out a refreshing sigh. 

“Reckon we’re doin’ a pretty good job… “He muttered, “For humanity that is.” 

In that moment, the resolute smile crept across her face too.  

“Yeah… I suppose we aren’t doing so bad either.”