Lumina pressed her nose to the round window, gazing at the endless night sky sprinkled with glittering stars. She hugged her knees to her chest and whispered, "I wish I could float among them." The thought filled her with tingles of excitement.
Today, that dream was within reach. She slipped on her shiny silver helmet, its visor catching reflections of her wide, eager eyes. In her room, her spaceship—a gleaming pod she’d built from old metal panels and shimmering blue lights—waited for her. She climbed inside, heart thumping, and buckled herself in.
"Ready for launch!" she announced to nobody but the blinking control panel. Her fingers danced over the glowing buttons. With a gentle hum, the engines whirred to life. The room around her faded as the ship rose, thrumming with energy. Through the window, Lumina watched her home shrink away, replaced by a sea of stars.
As she soared higher, she passed a comet trailing sparkling dust, its icy tail twinkling like diamonds. Lumina waved, giggling. "Hello, comet friend!"
Suddenly, the spaceship jolted. The control panel flashed a warning: one of the energy crystals powering the ship had come loose! Lumina’s heart skipped. If she didn’t fix it, her ship might spin out of control.
She took a deep breath, remembering the tool kit she’d packed for emergencies. Unfastening her harness, she floated carefully to the back of the pod. The crystal—glowing a soft lavender—wobbled in its holder. Lumina steadied it and, with nimble hands, tightened the silver clamps. The crystal pulsed, brighter now, and the ship’s hum smoothed into a steady purr.
Relief warmed her cheeks. "Crisis averted!" she cheered, settling back into her seat. Out the window, a swirling nebula painted the darkness with violet and gold. Lumina’s eyes sparkled. She had fixed her first space problem all by herself.
But just as she relaxed, the ship’s sensors beeped, signaling something nearby—something moving fast.
Lumina leaned closer to the window, her breath fogging the glass. What could be racing toward her in the endless galaxy? Her adventure was just beginning, and she was ready for whatever came next.