It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, the kind of day perfect for staying in my room, reading and researching in peace. I had a new astronomy book on the formation of black holes, and I was itching to dive into it without interruptions.
But just as I settled into my chair, there was a knock at my door, followed by my mom's voice. "Reina, we're going out together. Family day!"
I groaned softly, not loud enough for her to hear. Family day usually meant a trip to the park, a visit to a restaurant, or worse—bowling. I didn't want to be rude, but these outings always felt pointless to me. It was time I could spend studying or reading. I wasn't good with social events, even when they only involved my family.
"Reina, let's go!" Mom called out again, and this time, I heard my dad's voice join in. There was no way out of it.
Reluctantly, I set my book down and opened the door. My mom was standing there, looking hopeful, with my dad and little brother behind her. He was holding onto her hand, jumping up and down with excitement. His name was Hiro, and he was only six, with a big smile and an endless amount of energy. Unlike me, Hiro loved going out and was always trying to get me to play games with him.
"C'mon, Rei!" he said, giving me a big, toothy grin. "It's a family day! It'll be fun!"
I managed a small smile and nodded, though I still felt a bit apprehensive. I knew they wanted me to spend time with them, but I'd rather be in my room. Still, I couldn't ignore the hopeful look on my mom's face, or Hiro's excited little grin, so I decided to go along.
We ended up at the park, which was buzzing with families and kids running around. My dad set up a blanket under a tree, and my mom handed out snacks. Hiro immediately ran off to play on the swings, his laughter echoing through the park as he called out for me to join him. I tried to stay close to my family, but I kept glancing up at the sky, watching the clouds drift by. My mind kept drifting back to my book on black holes, wondering what new things I could be learning instead of sitting here.
"Reina, come on!" Hiro called, running back over to grab my hand and pull me toward the swing set. I hesitated but didn't resist. He was strong for his age, and his excitement was hard to ignore. "Please, just this once?" he asked, giving me the puppy-dog eyes he knew always worked on me.
"Alright, alright," I said with a sigh, letting him drag me over. I sat down on one of the swings, gripping the chains tightly.
He giggled, hopping onto the swing next to mine. "See? It's fun!"
I gave a small nod, pushing myself a bit, and before I knew it, I was swinging gently, feeling the cool breeze brush past me. Hiro swung beside me, going as high as he could, laughing the whole time. I didn't say much, but watching him so happy made me feel a little more at ease.
After a while, he looked over at me, his expression turning thoughtful. "Reina, do you like space more than family?" His voice was quiet, his question catching me off guard.
I looked down, feeling a pang of guilt. "It's… different, Hiro. Space is something I can explore and learn about. It's something that's… always there, you know?"
He tilted his head, considering this. "But we're here too, right? And we want to explore with you. Like… like a team!" He beamed, his eyes sparkling with determination.
I couldn't help but smile a bit. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But you don't really want to learn about space, do you?"
He shook his head vigorously, laughing. "No way! Space is your thing! But that's what makes it special. I like knowing what makes you happy, Rei."
His words hit me more deeply than I'd expected. I'd never thought of my family like that—as people who might actually want to share in my dreams, even if they didn't completely understand them. I'd always kept them at a distance, assuming they wouldn't get it, but maybe… maybe I'd been wrong.
As the day went on, we played games, and I tried to relax a bit, even joining in on a round of hide-and-seek that Hiro insisted on playing. My parents watched from the blanket, laughing and cheering us on. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was part of something—a team, just like Hiro had said. And although my mind still wandered to the stars and the mysteries of the universe, it didn't feel as lonely with my family around.
On the way home, Hiro fell asleep in the car, his head resting on my shoulder. I looked out the window at the darkening sky, feeling a warmth in my chest that I hadn't noticed before. Maybe family wasn't so different from space, after all. They were always there, whether I paid attention to them or not—like a constellation in my life, constant and comforting, even when I was too focused on my own dreams to see it.
As we drove home, I felt a strange sense of balance. I could still have my dream of exploring space, but maybe I didn't have to do it alone.