Earth shrank behind them like a fading jewel. From the pilot's seat, Liam could see its soft blues and whites blending into a pale, luminous sphere. It hung suspended in the dark sea of space, haloed by light from the sun.
The spacecraft glided upward, leaving the last thin film of atmosphere behind. The shift was subtle as gravity loosened its grip on the spacecraft, and the weight of the world seemed to slip off his shoulders.
He looked through the windscreen, which also doubled as a Smart Canopy. The stars were looked sharp, now that Liam was looking at them directly and they were no longer blurred by the distortion of air. He counted thousands upon thousands of them. Pinpricks of light across a black canvas that stretched forever.
Lucy stood beside him and she was quiet too. She was aware that Liam was enjoying the moment, and she didn't want to ruin it for him by speaking.
