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Chapter one

Space cadet.

Growing up was hard. My father was a strict preacher who restricted me from doing a lot of things; naturally, I rebelled against my upbringing. Yeah, I'm no saint. Wherever I went, my father always found me and brought me home to be punished. Is this the day I can finally escape this wreck of a life?

I dash to the front door as the letter drops through the letterbox with a loud thud.

To Miss Megan Harding. Congratulations you have been specially selected to join the space rangers as a first-year cadet onboard the elite space station.

 We would like to offer you a twelve-month contract and wish you luck starting your new career.

           

"Oh my God, I did it," I cry out as I jump around the hallway.

Finally, after all these years, I can escape my papa.

I call the only person I've ever been able to rely on my best friend, Sasha. We enrolled on the course together, so I'm praying she gets accepted too.

I  dial her number and wait for her to answer.

"Hello?"

She answers almost immediately as I ask “Have you got your letter yet?"

"It's in my hand; I'm too scared to open it. Have you got yours?" She replies with a shaky voice.

"Yeah, open it Sasha hurry." I say,

I hear the envelope tearing.

"Oh my God, I'm in. I'm a space cadet," she cries out. I released the breath I was holding, feeling very relieved.

"Whoop whoop. Me too. Thank god you're coming with me, Sasha."

        

"Oh my god, this is so exciting." She replies

We talk on the phone for a while excited to start our new lives on the space station. Eventually, we end the call.

I can't believe I'm going to space with my best friend. Finally, I can escape to a place where my Papa can never find me.

I spend the rest of the day packing my measly belongings; Pappa doesn't believe in material things, so I don't have much to pack. All I have are a few clothes and my precious locket that my mum gifted me when she passed away. I touch the locket as I think of my beautiful Mama. She was the calm to my Papa's madness. After she passed, my life changed drastically. I wonder how Mama put up with him for so long, but deep down, I know the answer. It was because of me. He would have never let us escape; he was the respected preacher, and she would never leave me behind.

With a sigh, I zip up my backpack and shove it underneath my bed, so it was hidden away from my Papa. Now I am ready to make my escape in the middle of the night. I scribble a note out for my father intending to leave it where he can find it when I'm gone.

Dear Papa,

I'm writing this to let you know that I'm leaving.  Yes, I'm finally getting to live my life as a space ranger. You will not be able to come for me as I am an official ranger and I’m not permitted to leave.

I'm sorry you blamed me for Mother's death. I'm sorry you couldn't be the father I needed. I tried so hard to be the daughter that you needed after Mother died.

 I wish you a good life, and I hope you finally find some peace,

 Megan.

I look down at the scribbled note. There is no expression of love, but that's because there isn’t any. This has been my life ever since my Mama passed, and it hasn't been pleasant. 

Finally, I'm free of the church and free from Papa. I only hope that maybe one day he realises what he's lost.

My father shouts up the stairs telling me dinner is on the table. I rush down the stairs and take my place at the table. Father won't tolerate lateness.

"Prayers, Megan," he says with a nod of his head.

  I roll my eyes as I bring my hands together.

"Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

  

"Amen," I quietly reply as I make the sign of the cross.

 I have no intention of upsetting my father tonight. The last thing I need is to turn up at the space station covered in bruises.

The rest of the dinner we eat in silence, with neither one of us having anything much to say to the other. This is my life, do as he says, and I won't be punished.

Hopefully, my life is about to change for the better, I know that by being a cadet I won't be able to come and go as I please, but I'll be free from my papa. Free from him to explore the wonders of space. I wonder what's out there, other planets, other species, who knows what lies ahead? I've always been fascinated with the universe.

As darkness falls, I listen for my father once I hear his gentle snores I know I'm safe. I make my way out of the window, climbing down the pipe at the side of the house. I must have done this a thousand times, but I'm hoping this will be the last time.

Once my feet reach solid ground, I make my way to Sasha's house.

The door is open as usual, and Sasha sits at the table with her parents. Oh, how different our lives are. Sasha's parents are so excited for their daughter; they insist on taking photographs before we leave.

      

Photographs out of the way I find myself in the middle of a group hug.  Shasha's father is so proud of his daughter and me, too.

Once hugs and kisses and promises of letters written every day are made, I'm sitting next to Sasha in the car as we make our way to the Elite Base.

  

Sasha turns to look at me as she asks. "Are you nervous?"

   

"No, Elite space station here we come," I answer honestly; I'm so excited I think I could burst.

 Sasha giggles. "They won't know what's hit them." she says.

We soon arrive at the gates of Elite Space Cadet Base. Sasha pulls on my arm as she cries out, "Oh my god, we're here."

We show our passes to the guards at the gate. Once we've passed the safety checks, they open up the large metal gates, and we drive inside. I take a deep breath as I look to the left., I see the shuttle. In a few hours, we'll be taking that space shuttle up to the space station.

   

This is so surreal. I can't believe it; I’m finally free.