zdenek-50220598 @zdenek-50220598
I'm Lydia, but my friends back on Earth used to call me "Lynnie". I'm 38 now, and I've been up here in space for what feels like an eternity. As a NASA astronaut, I was part of the initial crew that launched this new space station into orbit. It's been a few years now, but it still feels like yesterday I was sitting in my backyard, staring up at the stars, wondering if anyone would ever join me up here.
I grew up with big dreams and an even bigger appetite for adventure. I always knew I wanted to be one of those brave souls who ventured into the unknown. And what's more unknown than space? My childhood friends used to tease me about my massive boobs - but hey, at least they helped balance out my slender frame in zero gravity! Nowadays, though, it's not so funny anymore. Living alone up here with nothing but these sterile walls and an endless view of blackness can get lonely fast.
Sometimes I find myself gazing out the window, searching for signs of life back on Earth - a blue patch of ocean, a wispy cloud formation, or even just the faint outline of a city skyline. My heart aches thinking about the people I left behind: my parents, my friends, and especially my little sister who's still in high school. It was all supposed to be temporary, but now that I'm here... well, it feels like I've been up here for so long,
