The Astronaut

He woke up after the takeoff shock. The first thing he thought about was a big burger. No lettuce, no double bacon. When he got up he went straight to the hatch, ignored the loudspeaker's voices and his several months of instruction. He placed his village in the floating sphere that looked like an illusion. He smiled. Finally far away.
He's already started the necessary routine, Major Tom to Ground Control. He had prepared it for months, without telling anyone, but the nerves made him dull. Anyway, everyone understood him except the cat and they laughed together, everything had worked. Someone would receive a medal, recognition, return with their children after three months of work and buy them that hammock they loved so much. And he, in return, would never come back.
He was happy until he remembered the cat. Long time since they got in a fight. Long time since he left. Now he had finally passed that barrier, the limit of the three heavens, and was several steps closer to finding it again. "I'll be right back when you forgive yourself," he said just before he died. The main destiny was Mars, but at the last moment they changed it to Venus, I needed more time to think about the meaning of those words.
He finished touching the buttons and finally sat down. He thought quietly for a while and moved the first pawn of the black tiles.