After his exhausting monologue, Soyuz 4 sprawled out on the floor to rest, suddenly falling silent. He stared up at the skylight, one arm draped over his forehead as if lost in thought. Valentina sat hugging her knees, resting her chin on top. They remained immersed in their thoughts for a long while before Soyuz 4 finally lowered his voice and spoke what was on his mind:
“You know, 27, Dr. Giang Tien is a really special woman. She’s gentle and caring to everyone – nothing like other adults who are always indifferent and like to act superior to us. One time, when I was in so much pain, she held me and cried. And somehow, I stopped feeling the pain. I just felt a little sad inside. After that day, I promised myself I’d always smile brightly so she could feel at ease doing her work.
“She also tells me interesting stories about her homeland—about national pride, and about a hero who led his country to reclaim freedom and independence. When she gave me this silver superhero and said he would fight beside me in her place, helping me stand against the cruel enemies out there… that’s when I started feeling much stronger. This guy is the reason I stay optimistic and full of energy every single day. You know, I really hate adults – but she’s the only exception. You get that feeling, don’t you, 27?”
Valentina lowered her face into her knees and remained silent in response to Soyuz 4’s question. Unlike him, she didn’t possess such optimism, nor did she have anyone to rely on or confide in the way Dr. Tien had done for him. She had always lived in solitude, her mind filled with pessimistic thoughts, viewing the world through a darkened lens.
To her, books were the only companions that never hurt her—always by her side, helping her imagine what the world outside might be like. And because she had no one, the idea of love had always felt like something distant and extravagant, beyond her understanding – despite having read about it countless times in fairy tales, where love was always portrayed as the power that allowed people to overcome any hardship.
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“If there is love, does it really make people stronger?”
Valentina remained lost in that thought until the two of them eventually had to leave the common room and return to their respective quarters, located at opposite ends of the facility.
…
“Oh. An encyclopedia about space. Can I take a look with you? I love learning about the universe too.”
The two of them met again after a long period of separation. This time, Valentina brought along an encyclopedia she had found on the shelves deeper inside the library – an area few ever bothered to visit. Normally, she only searched for books on the front rows of shelves, but perhaps because someone had once sparked her curiosity about the legend of the Big Dipper, today she felt an urge to learn more about the universe.
Valentina placed the book on the floor and opened it wide so they could read together. She read faster than Soyuz 4, which meant she had to wait for him to finish each page before turning to the next one. Though the delay annoyed her slightly, seeing her friend staring so intently at the pages – as if he wanted to devour every word – filled her with quiet joy. It was rare for Valentina to share her interests with anyone, especially when Soyuz 4 was the only friend she had. So when he suggested reading together, she was genuinely happy.
He read each word slowly, occasionally stopping for long moments just to run his fingers over the embossed illustrations on the pages. Normally, Valentina could skim through this book in no time at all, yet this time it took her nearly an entire day. When they finally finished, Soyuz 4 seemed more energetic than usual. Not that he wasn’t already energetic – but today, he was somehow even more so.
“This is amazing. The first person to fly into space was a Russian cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin, and the first person to walk on the Moon was an American astronaut named Neil Armstrong. They’re incredible. How could they have the courage to take a journey they might never return from?”
