One Foot in Front of the Other

Posted on 20 Feb 2014 @ 11:26am by Lieutenant Elijah Williams IV, M.Sc.
Edited on 20 Feb 2014 @ 11:26am

724 words; about a 4 minute read

ON:

"Computer begin recording personal log...

My transfer orders went through without a hitch but now that the deal is sealed I don't feel as happy with the prospect of leaving Earth. Maybe it was the excitation that got to me, the thought of actually getting out there and truly exploring new worlds. For a geologist, that is a dream come true right? I don't really have anything tying me down here, so I am not sure why I am feeling the way I am feeling..."

Elijah stood there, in his bedroom of his tiny apartment in San Francisco. It wasn't much, but it was home. He didn't own a lot personal possessions so it was easy to pack up in that regard. But, there was some comfort in all of this, change never did come easy to him. He was a man somewhat set in his ways and the upset of routine was unnerving. In a way, that led him to a solitary life, it was just easier to keep his head down and do what he had to do. Routine was born from that. If he kept a routine, it meant that bad things didn't happen.

But now, now he was doing something totally unexpected of himself. He put in for this transfer, he wanted it, he wanted to get out into the unknown and just be apart of something greater than himself. This was why he joined Starfleet, scientists who joined the fleet did so so they could be out there exploring. There was nothing new on Earth, but there was so much more out beyond the solar system.

"... I know I have made the right decision for myself. Being here, on Earth, in a lab is fine but I need more. I crave more. This is something new for me, I have never been the ambitious type but how am I ever going to grow or get ahead if I stay here? No, I have to go, it is the right decision..."

Blowing out a sigh, he picked up some old first editions of books he collected over the years and began to wrap them up with care. Elijah knew there was not a lot of space on the Galileo, but he also knew he couldn't leave some of his most prized possessions behind. He could replicate what he needed for his day to day use, but these books he could not.

"... I remember my mother once telling me that all you need to do is put one foot in front of the other and your path will be laid out for you. It was an odd thing for her to say, it was so profound and maybe that is why I remember it. It's good advice, advice that I think I will have to follow. Speaking of, I will miss my parents. I haven't talked to them in years, but I think of them everyday. I sent a message to them letting them know I was leaving, but not surprisingly I haven't heard back. I will miss my whole family, Bryson and Hudson want me to stay in contact with them. I think it is more so they can live vicariously through me. After I left home, after they saw what happened, they don't dare step out of line. My sister, Melissa, can care less at this point. She is too wrapped up in being a teenager. Plus, she was only 8 when I left home, she doesn't even really remember me I am sure."

Closing up the dark gray bin, Elijah looked around his room. All he had from his bedroom was two bins, one with clothes and one with some books and other personal items. In the living room were more bins, but most of those were going to go into storage. It was good to be shedding this part of himself, it was time to move on.

"Though this will be all new and I have to admit there is some apprehension involved, I know this will be a good move for me. It will be a nice new start and heck who knows maybe I will just fit right in and the transition will be nice and smooth. I can hope at least.

Computer end personal log."

OFF:

Lieutenant JG Elijah Williams, IV
Geologist
USS Galileo

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