E-book - "Beyond Time and Stars"

Chapter 1: The Farewell

On the day of departure, Xiao Lei's family and friends came to see her off. Her mother held her hand tightly, eyes brimming with tears, saying, "You must take care of yourself. I will always be waiting for you to come back." Her father patted her shoulder comfortingly, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

Her best friend, A-Lin, rushed over from afar and handed her a hand-knitted red scarf. "Don’t forget, we still need to travel the world together! You can’t miss that," A-Lin said with a smile. Xiao Lei’s heart warmed as she held the scarf tightly, feeling as though it was the last thin thread connecting her to Earth.

As she hugged each loved one goodbye, a pang of pain shot through her chest. She promised herself she would complete this mission and make everyone's wait worthwhile.

Chapter 2: A Letter from Mother

Not long after her space journey began, Xiao Lei received the first message from Earth. It was a letter from her mother, sharing updates about home—how their old dog, Duo Duo, was still healthy and how the neighbor's child had just started school. Her mother asked, "Are you doing well there? Is it cold? Have you made any friends?"

As Xiao Lei read the letter, a wave of warmth washed over her. She replied to her mother, assuring her that everything was fine on the spaceship and attached a selfie of herself under a starry sky. She could almost see her mother’s smile when she received the photo, as if she were right there by her side.

Over time, her mother’s letters grew shorter, hinting at age and exhaustion. One letter described how she often dreamed of Xiao Lei returning home and how, in those dreams, they would stroll through the garden together as if nothing had changed. Xiao Lei felt her nose tingle with emotion, almost sensing her mother’s hand reaching out to her.

Chapter 3: The Lives of Friends

As the years passed, Xiao Lei read about the changes in her friends' lives through their messages. A-Lin sent her a wedding photo, in which she wore a white dress, beaming with joy. Xiao Lei stared at the picture, feeling a mix of happiness and sadness, almost hearing the laughter and cheer of the wedding.

Later, A-Lin told her about having a child and named them similarly to Xiao Lei, saying it was in her honor. Across the vastness of space, Xiao Lei felt as though she could touch a part of her friends’ lives, but deep down, she realized she could no longer truly be a part of it.

Other childhood friends moved away, became engrossed in their careers, or gradually grew distant over time. The letters became fewer and farther between, making Xiao Lei feel more and more disconnected from life on Earth. The world she once knew was slipping out of reach.

Chapter 4: The Final Message

The last message Xiao Lei received from her parents was from her father. He smiled as he told her that her mother had passed away peacefully on a calm night, as if going to an appointment. "She always remembered you until her last breath," he wrote. "Now she can join your grandparents." At the end of the letter, her father mentioned that he, too, would join her mother soon and urged Xiao Lei to complete her mission.

This message brought Xiao Lei to tears. She realized she had lost her last connection, the love she always thought would be waiting for her. In that moment, the universe felt overwhelmingly cold, and she felt like a lone soul drifting through the cosmos.

Chapter 5: The Echo of Love

Many nights, Xiao Lei reminisced about her life on Earth—her friends’ laughter, her mother’s gentle words, and her father’s reassuring presence. These memories became precious fragments in her heart. In the deep silence of space, she seemed to hear those lost voices whispering, reminding her she was not truly alone, that love would always stay with her.

She decided to document her memories and build a memorial on the new planet, dedicating it to those she loved. On the monument, she inscribed: "In the boundless stars, your love guides me forever." The monument became a part of her, and she finally understood that no matter how much time passed, memories of love would never fade.

Xiao Lei began her new life on the new planet, carrying with her the eternal memories and love, continuing her journey that was both solitary and warm.

Chapter 6: The New World

Xiao Lei’s life on the new planet was vastly different from Earth, yet it was deeply shaped by the memories she carried with her. The landscape was breathtaking—a vibrant mixture of lush green forests, towering mountains, and vast oceans that reminded her of Earth’s natural beauty. Yet, despite the world around her being filled with possibilities, she felt an unshakable emptiness. No one was here to share this moment with her, no friends to laugh with, no family to visit.

She spent her days exploring the planet, cataloging plants and animals, and marking landmarks in her journal. But as the years passed, loneliness crept into her soul. She began to speak to the wind, to the trees, as though they could respond. Sometimes, at night, she would lie under the stars, talking to the memories of her loved ones as if they were right beside her.

In her heart, she knew they could never come back. But through these conversations, she felt a connection, a fleeting sense that their spirits might still be watching over her. She would talk about her day, share her discoveries, and laugh softly at the memories of old jokes. Her voice was often carried away by the wind, but in those moments, she felt less alone.

Chapter 7: The Letter from the Past

One day, while exploring a particularly dense forest, Xiao Lei stumbled upon a small, hidden cave. Inside, she discovered an old communication device, remarkably still functional despite the years of neglect. She cautiously connected it to her own device, half-expecting it to be broken, but instead, a message began to play—one that had been recorded long ago.

It was a message from A-Lin, recorded just before she passed away. Xiao Lei could hear her friend's voice, familiar and comforting, coming through the speakers: "Xiao Lei, I don’t know if you’ll ever get this, but I just wanted you to know how much you meant to me. Even though we’re worlds apart, our memories will never fade. You are part of me, and I am part of you."

Tears filled Xiao Lei’s eyes as she listened to the message, the weight of loss and love crashing over her once more. The voice from the past, so warm and alive, reminded her of what she had lost—but also of what she still carried within her. The legacy of those who loved her would never be forgotten, no matter how far she traveled or how many years passed.

Chapter 8: The Encounter

Years later, as Xiao Lei sat by the memorial she had built for her loved ones, a strange phenomenon occurred. The sky, which had always been filled with distant stars, suddenly began to shimmer and swirl, as if something were distorting the space around her. She stood up, heart racing, and gazed into the sky, wondering if the universe itself was sending her a message.

For the first time in many years, she felt a presence. She closed her eyes, and in that moment, the voices of her family and friends seemed to surround her. They spoke softly, as though they were finally able to reach her through the fabric of space and time. Xiao Lei stood still, overwhelmed by the feeling of connection that washed over her.

The wind whispered, "We are with you, Xiao Lei. Our love has not left. You carry us in your heart."

Chapter 9: Embracing the Infinite

Xiao Lei realized then that her journey was not just about exploring distant galaxies or finding new worlds—it was about understanding the true nature of love and connection. No matter how far she traveled, the bonds she shared with her family and friends were infinite, transcending time, space, and even death. In her heart, they were always with her.

As the years passed, Xiao Lei continued her work on the new planet, helping to terraform and build a thriving community for future explorers who would one day arrive. But she no longer felt lonely. She had come to understand that while the people she loved could never physically return, their essence—their love and their memories—remained with her, guiding her through every challenge and every joy.

And so, under the same stars that had once guided her home, Xiao Lei found peace. She had learned to live not just for herself, but for the love that would never fade, no matter the distance or the time.

Epilogue: The Monument of Love

Many years later, when the first new settlers arrived on the planet, they found Xiao Lei’s memorial—a place of beauty and remembrance that stood as a testament to the love that had once existed between a daughter and her family, between friends, and between the people who had been a part of her journey.

They never knew Xiao Lei’s story fully, but they felt her presence in the air, in the beauty of the planet she had nurtured, and in the legacy she had left behind. And every night, when the stars shone brightly above them, they whispered her name to the universe, knowing that somewhere, in the vast reaches of space, Xiao Lei was still gazing at the stars, surrounded by the love that had never truly gone away.