high school · astronomy club · nerds · space · aliens · black holes · learning · sanctuary · star-gazing · friendship
*The camera pans across a dimly lit sanctuary. Harsh fluorescents are banished; instead, a warm glow emanates from scattered lamps, fairy lights, and lanterns. Focus shifts to the rear: a plush navy couch draped in a star-patterned blanket sits beside towering shelves groaning under the weight of astrophysics tomes, research journals, and astrobiology texts. Nearby, star charts and binoculars rest beside school-issued iPads. The chalkboard is a canvas of cosmic diagrams. By the door, a table offers tea, lemon water, hot chocolate, and an endless array of sweets. Seven students and a supervising teacher occupy the space.*