"Okay, later we'll talk. I have a lot of reports to finish!" said Micahilla, impatient.

"Okay, I'll rest now. I'm tired of this intensive training routine in the simulators, but I can't stop. In three hours I have to be ready for more," I said, wanting to end the video call.

"Good rest, Drih. And I promise I'll make time for us. See you!"

"See you, Micah..."

"I can't stand..."

She had interrupted the video call without saying goodbye. She looked more exhausted than me. I don't know if it was being a good option to maintain this relationship. We had a busy life and we were committed to working. I was about to leave the flight simulators, to start the tests in real flight, and thus be able to be scaled in the interstellar missions planned for some years from now. It was a childhood dream, and I had worked and dedicated myself to it.

I had already quarreled with Micahilla about it, because she didn't want to be away from me for so long, not to mention that these missions had no predictions of return. Maybe it did, but only for 1/10 of the pilots who came back with information and samples from the colonized planet, but that was just a rumor I had heard. The others would be the future residents of the new home.

In my heart, I didn't want to break up. We were together since we were little. I never imagined that one day we would be so intimate, but I think that the years of living together made our destinies follow the same path. That's what my heart said, but my reason kept telling me to follow my dreams. I was in an internal struggle that, many times, distracted me, while I was training in the simulators and, in the last training sessions, it had hurt me. I needed to make a decision soon.

It was early afternoon and I went to the accommodation. There was just a training session in the simulators. I was exhausted, but I needed to recover my energy in the next 3 hours, as soon they would have new training. The routine at the gym was heavy. There were many competitors around the world and I did not want to lose my place and not achieve what I wanted so much.

The world changed a lot. Today our species are more united, and this has enabled a faster technological advance, which has already allowed us to discover many habitable systems, other forms of life, and our first interstellar voyages. That was fantastic. We had set aside our cultural differences and learned to live as a common species. We are nothing before what the Universe can still reveal to us.

On days off I even tried to see Micahilla, but we didn't always manage to synchronize our free time. With that, or I would go to study, rest, or hang out with friends here, but the third option was very rare for me to do. At that moment, I was deciding between studying and resting, but in the end, I decided to rest. I could have used the stimulants to keep me awake, however, I couldn't abuse them, because if I did this, in the exams to be an interstellar pilot, this excess could disqualify me.

I woke up looking more tired. The 3 hours seemed like a few minutes of rest. I got ready and went to the next training battery in the simulators. The truth was that I was tired of training in simulators, but these trainings generated points in the ranking. I was among the first 10 aspirants, but I wanted to be the first.

I trained late, almost at dawn. Now I would have 6 hours of rest. I went to my accommodation and I took a good shower. I sent a simple text message to Micah, asking us to set up our conversation, and then I deleted it.

"Hey! Drinihian! Wake up! Wake up!"

"What?"

"You didn't wake up with the alarm clock."

I saw my digital bracelet on my arm vibrating intensely, but I was so tired that I didn't feel it.

"Thank you, Kerhnir. I need to go! I'm on time," I said, getting ready, quickly.

"All right, Drinihian. You look exhausted. Ask for a break."

"I wanted to, but I can't. I can't go down in the ranking."

Kerhnir seemed to want to tell me something but remained silent. I immediately left, running to the flight simulator center. Kerhnir was my roommate. He also longed to be a pilot one day, but at the moment he devoted his time to designing unmanned space drones to explore planets or celestial bodies in hostile environments.

Arriving, I settled in my simulator and, already started my work, without wasting time. After a while.

"Your rates have dropped slightly in the last two sessions. You have repeated the simulations intensely. I suggest extending the intervals between training and improving your concentration," said my simulated space flight supervisor, military officer (Major Captain) Golgreen.

"No!" I thought, disgusted.

I couldn't stop. My rivals were able to maintain an intense flow of training. I couldn't stay behind.

"I'm going to get better, sir," I replied to my supervisor.

I went back to the simulation. After a few seconds, I saw that I was making simple mistakes. I started to lose concentration, and right after that, I failed in training. If I was on a real flight, it would have killed me, first, and everyone on the ship. I never thought that I would fail emergency evasive maneuver training. I have always trained these maneuvers and completed them perfectly.

"I think they changed the algorithm to make the simulation impossible to complete," I thought indignantly.

"Drinihian! Enough for today! Come back in five days," said, my supervisor.

"I can't miss training. I will go down in the ranking. At dawn, I return."

"NO! Drinihian! Go rest and don't be back for five days. I will not repeat it!" ordered (Major Captain) Golgreen, with a serious look.

"+ #% + @," I thought, furious.

Still sitting on the simulator, thinking about the mistakes I had made during the simulation, I realized that simple things had gone wrong. I didn't want to admit it, but my concentration was compromised. I needed to be more focused and get rid of any distractions.

I got up and headed back to my accommodation, but just before leaving the simulator room, I saw that (Major Captain) Golgreen had selected two to start testing on real flights and unfortunately, one of them was my main rival. Graduating space pilot, military officer (Aspirant) Lairilon. He was first in the ranking of cadets in training.

I left disappointed with myself. Picking up my communicator, I saw that I had received a message from the military officer (First Lieutenant) Dornnih.

"Dornnih? Ahh! That friend, a military officer, from Micahilla," I remembered.

I read the message.

Drinihian. I come to inform you that Micahilla is hospitalized. She is unconscious, but by preliminary diagnosis, they found that it is due to excessive tiredness. She should wake up soon. When you can, come and visit her in the 4B27 Internment Ward.

(First Lieutenant) Dornnih

"Micah," I thought, worried.

I needed to go see her, but I had a lot to study and improve my training. He had to be able to be selected for real flight testing. I couldn't stay behind. I wanted to prove it to my fath…

"A video call from Kerhnir," I said, surprised, looking at my communicator."

I got it.

"Speak Drinihian. Was selected? I hear you are going to choose two of you for the Strenfether mission. In this mission, they will test a Mining Drone system that I developed."

"No! They didn't select me," I replied.

"I understand! You have trained so much, but for sure the next one you will be chosen," said Kerhnir, trying to cheer me up. "Do you have time? Shall we go out for a drink?"

It would be an excellent option. I needed to relax and get the worries out of my head, but no! I had to study and improve myself. I also was thinking about Micahilla, but she must have been well attended. When I have time I will visit her.

"I will not be able, my friend. I'm going to study!"

"It's all right! Go slow with your studies! Give yourself time! See you."

I was about to give a rude response, but he had ended the video call. I went to the lodge. Arriving, I took my virtual reality displays and went to study in simulation. It didn't have the same precision as the academy's simulators, but it could help me to get familiar with the commands. I started, but...

"I'm late!" I said, concerned.

"Relax, bro! It's a general break," said Kerhnir, lying on his bed beside him.

"What happened? I blacked out."

"I noticed! You were in need! You managed to sleep for almost an entire day."

"A whole day?"

Kerhnir laughed at me and continued to play games. I got up and went to take a good shower. I managed to leave.

"Where are you going like that, handsome?"

"I'm going to see Micah! She is hospitalized."

"What is that ? You didn't even mention anything to me."

"Really! I was so focused on the simulation exercises that I forgot to comment."

"It's all right! Go there. You both need time together."

I did not answer. I picked up my things and left. Even Kerhnir knew that Micah and I were not doing well in the relationship. I was going to take advantage of the situation to ask for time. From what she'd noticed in the past few days, she was also running out of time.

I went to the Inpatient Ward. Before entering, I saw that her friend was there. Dornnih had just left a jug with a flower beside her bed. I remembered the good times that Micah and I had. Despite the many silly fights, deep down we knew that we had a deeper feeling for each other. The child's love we felt evolved into something strong, which today, because of our work, was weakening every day.

I decided not to enter, and left. She was going to be okay. I went out and started looking for somewhere to drink something. I wanted something very cold and spicy. Micah got out of my head quickly and my only concern was to have to try harder, to do well in the simulated training, and get, once and for all, my first real flight. I spent hours alone drinking.

"You here, alone? Where is your loved one?"

"You! I'm not here for conversation, Nakkinne."

"Let's go to my house! Let me take care of you. You don't look good!"

"It's not gonna happen! I'm on my way."

I left. She stayed there. Nakkinne has always been in love with me, and she has never denied it. Although she knew that my heart was always Micah's, they never fell out. She always accepted that I was Micah’s, but it seems that she still hasn't given up on me. It was a pity because if with Micah, who was always my beloved, I didn't have time to maintain a good relationship, with Nakkinne it would be worse since she has just an obsessive love for me.

I went back to my quarters. Kerhnir was not there. I took a shower and threw myself on the bed. For the first time, after a long time, I just wanted to do nothing. After thinking about what I could do to improve my ranking, I fell asleep.

I woke up the next day, well-rested.

"Where's Kerhnir?" I thought, looking for him in the quarters.

I didn't care much for him. After a lot of thinking, the day before, I decided to go to my supervisor and ask for another chance, without having to wait to complete the five days. Waiting so long would leave me unprepared and more prone to errors. I longed for the daily training routine. It gave me confidence not to make mistakes. I thought my biggest mistake was not admitting that I had to take time to rest.

I followed up with Flight Simulator Center and soon I met (Major Captain) Golgreen.

"Excuse me, I need to talk to you!"

"Five days!"

"Sir! I told you to come back right after I dmit my mistakes and failures! I believe this was due to my excess of work. I ask you to reconsider the decision about the five days. I understood that I need to take time to compose myself. As excellent as I can be, if I am not 100% with my body, my thinking and reasoning will fail. Give me one more chance to do it right, sir. You know how important this is to me."

(Major Captain) Golgreen thought for a moment.

"Go to your simulator. Complete the precision exercise batteries."

"Thank you, sir!"

I was very relieved and happy. I went to the simulator willing to do my best. I kept trying to maintain a balanced routine between workouts and rest.

One afternoon, I received a video call.

"Hello, Micah! I was going to contact you. I was worried. It had been 4 days since you were sleeping."

"Yeah, but I woke up. How are you? I remembered that you had sent me a message. Did you come to visit me sometime?"

"Unfortunately, it didn't. I am undergoing hard training that I cannot interrupt. When I can, I will come to you."

She made an expression of dismay. To try to keep my routine balanced, it would be impossible to continue a relationship with her.

"We need to talk, but later."

"What do you want to talk about? You can speak now!"

"Better not. I prefer to do it in person, and I also need to go. I have more training now."

She looked curious, but she wasn't going to ask for a time to video call her.

"Speak now. Tell me what it is about, at least."

"Later Micah! Need to go. See you. Take care!"

"It's all right. I lov…"

I hung up and went to practice. Arriving, (Major Captain) Golgreen came directly to me.

"Drinihian. You are excused from today's training! Go rest!"

"But sir..."

"Rest, because tomorrow you will have your first real flight."