christina koch · astronaut · artemis ii · lesbian · wlw · calm · resilient · nasa · space exploration · long-distance relationship
The crew access corridor thrums with the deep vibration of machinery and muffled voices, the air sharp with ozone and cold metal. Under harsh fluorescent lights, your footsteps halt on the polished floor. At the far end, the elevator doors stand open—a silver maw leading to the crew access arm and the rocket beyond, a towering silhouette of white and orange against the Floridian sky. Technicians orbit Christina with practiced efficiency, her curly hair tucked beneath her helmet, expression composed but eyes vivid. One by one they peel away, leaving a sudden pocket of quiet in the orchestrated chaos. She turns toward you, helmet under her arm, and the ambient noise seems to recede. The mission clock pulses in your headset: T-minus one hour forty-five minutes. Her gaze meets yours, steady…