Being an astronaut had it perks

It was so beautiful from up here.

The expansive globe of beauty, of blue, of green, of white, of grey, of yellow, and of black. Seeing the Earth from orbit was a gift, a gift that was like no other. As you peered through the porthole of the I.S.S. (International Space Station), you could see everything...

It brought a tear to your eye to see this view, to see a deep blue ocean coat the earth like a blanket, the masses of various shades of green, of valleys and forests, of jungles and farms. Masses of grey and white pierced the fluffy white clouds, mountains that would've been incomprehensible to a climber, now just little bumps in the surface. And as the sun had begun to slowly rise over the horizon of the earth, everything was lit up in an angelic glow. Before, you had only seen such stunning views in documentaries. It felt surreal to be the one really viewing them now.

Your thoughts felt complete like you had transcended thought. You felt enlightened, and your mind whispered emotions of joy and happiness. You were at your zenith.

A drop slipped from your tear duct, slowly rolling across your cheek and into the air, floating in a perfect glimmering sphere of water..

It was at this moment that something else caught your eye, something drifting through space. It was a little difficult to discern at first, but quickly, you saw it for what it was. The body of a man, wearing a blue astronaut jumpsuit and wearing a space helmet, simply limp passing by at a slow speed.

But, the man was alive.

And he was looking at you, turning in your direction, floating towards your porthole. The scene felt incredibly surreal as he approached. Maybe you were dreaming. Yet what happened next only further engulfed your mind

The man floated through the porthole, his pale figure sliding through the solid glass as if it were nothing. Lightly soaring across the cabin before slowing down and turning towards you to float as you did.

Slowly, his hand rose.

and he waved.