I had always dreamed of travelling to the stars. When I was little, I would gaze up at the starry night welkin and wonder what was out there. I was always fascinated with the universe and its secrets. As an astrophysicist, I dedicated my life to exploring the enigma surrounding the universe. And now, after years of experimentation and research, I finally did it. I created a revolutionary invention that would change the course of space travel forever. I created a teleporting spaceship that could travel light years ahead of the speed of light itself.

The execution of this technology would be astounding. With the ability to teleport into the stars, mankind could explore the furthest reaches of space, discover alternate universes, and maybe even associate with alien civilisations. I believed in aliens because, how can we be the only species existing in such a vast universe?

But, that could also be perilous. The process of teleportation might possess ordeals that have not been unleashed yet, and the side effects it might have on our human body were not yet affirmed. What if someone misuses it because interstellar travel would be a potential for misuse and abuse for the nefarious purposes of barbaric people? Furthermore, the aftereffects it might have on natural resources and the environment were still anonymous. What if potential damage was caused to ecosystems? What if all natural resources were depleted?

Therefore, I only had one option. Everyone knew that I was working on a highly confidential project that I would unveil only after I finish it. But, I could not inaugurate my teleporting spaceship right away without deeply analysing its aftermath on humanity. Eureka! No one knew about my creation of a teleporting spaceship and it was only I who wanted to unravel the puzzles that lay hidden among the distant galaxies and stars. So, I could first travel to outer space with my invention and comprehend its perks and flaws and then, introduce it to the world while sharing the story of my exhibition. Everyone would stop referring to me as 'Dr Mico Acheron' and call me 'Mico, the father of interstellar travel'. That would be such prestige for a scientist as young as twenty-seven.

But, I had to do something before that. I had to call my two best friends and fellow scientists Raf and Emerson and tell them about my plan. They were my best friends and also, I needed someone to tell my story in case everything miscarried. And in this bloodthirsty field of astrophysics, the only two people I could trust and count on were them.

Raf and Emerson came as fast as their feet could take them to my laboratory when they received the news. We had a grave round table debate with my idea of taking the liberty to solitarily explore the depths of the vast galaxies. After too much suasion and counsel on what to do in any sort of situation, I sat in the driver's seat of my teleporting spaceship. A few moments after inspecting every nook and cranny of it and flashing on whether I took every essential gear and gadget to proceed with my journey, I pressed the big red button and pulled the lever next to it.

"Remember, if you do not receive a signal or response from me, then you know what to do. Share my story and try to find at least my cadaver," I said, before the green light sprung into action, taking me through a dark void.

And presto, I was in outer space. I stared, dazed and distracted, at the sight of a zillion stars in the galaxy. They were all pristine and felt so surreal that I could hardly believe that it was all real. As I noted an outlying star, I observed an abnormal signal coming from within. As I directed my gadgets towards the origins of the signal, I saw something that made me question everything she had ever researched.

Behind the star was another planet. Not only did I see another planet but its inhabitants evacuating it. The inhabitants of that planet looked very serious and in such a hurry that they did not even notice me. I  got my 'universal languages interpreter' deciding to put it to the ultimate test.

There, out of the planet, ran a creature, unlike anything I ever had seen before. It was made of pure energy, with snippets of fluorescence coming out from all sides of it. It eyed me up and down and I took my gizmo to test.

"Greetings Mr Alien," I said doubtfully, unsure if the gizmo actually worked creature could even hear her.

But to my bewilderment, it did.

"Hello," the creature said, its voice translating into signals that made me comprehend what it was saying, "It's you, who's actually the alien."

I was taken aback. It was not because I was talking to an alien or using my interpreter accurately because I knew I was a scientist with great potential and also, because I always believed that more life existed in the entire universe, but because I never thought that aliens would know sarcasm and satire.

"Why are you and your relatives leaving?" I inquired, my inquisitiveness taking over my brain.

"I am a dweller of this planet," the alien replied, "Our sort of beings existed for years but we migrated planets whenever the planet we lived in have any issues coming toward it."

I was astonished. Everything I thought I knew made no sense at this moment. These creatures knew when to leave their planet while I, was just in outer space to test up my gadgets and gizmos, thinking that I am the world's best astrophysicist. I could not help but wonder what the issue that was coming toward this planet was. It looked livable.

"What is the issue this planet is having?" I asked, trying to hide my intrusiveness.

"This planet is going to be affected by a supernova," the creature said. "If the supernova occurs, we won't be able to dwell in it. We won't be able to dwell at all.."

Maya felt a surge of excitement. She had always wanted to know more about the universe, and here was an opportunity to learn from a being that had existed for longer than she could comprehend.

"The supernova had been predicted for months," continued the creature, "but no one could prepare for the devastation that followed. Its explosion would send shockwaves through the galaxy and destroy everything in its path including our planet."

"What about the earth?" I asked eagerly, from the intellectual creature.

"Earth? Oh earth," the creature muttered after a moment of thought. "It's far away so its nature of existence is powerful to bear this Supernova."

I was awestruck. I had always imagined that there was no other creature in this universe as intellectual as humans and this alien knew what I did not know. I never imagined that the creature would have the answers to all of my questions within reach.

The creature rushed away with its friends and I was left alone. I wanted to explore the planet and compare it to Earth. I wanted to see whether humans would be able to dwell in this, even though it would only be hypothetical now that the supernova would destroy it. Still, I drove my spaceship toward the planet.

But, I had no idea what predicament awaited me. I pressed the wrong button and the spaceship headed away from the planet. It headed to a void, a dark, bottomless void that sucked my teleporting spaceship into it even though I struggled to get off its grip and save my life from getting swallowed into the unknown. I felt like dust on the corner of four walls, getting sucked into a vacuum cleaner.

I had always been fascinated with the enigmata of astrophysics and science itself and that fascination led me into such turmoil. I had spent years studying the cosmos but had no preparation to survive what I was experiencing, or no explanation of what I was experiencing. I thought I was going to die.

I thought that I might die when I was on a random routine of identifying or studying distant stars when I suddenly notice something strange and get a heart attack because it is Death coming to fetch me with him. But, never have I ever expected to die due to being swallowed by a black hole.

As I gave up, thinking that Death was right around the corner, I saw a star. That star seemed to be pulsating in a way that she had never seen before, making me intrigued. It was Death after all.

Except, it was not.

As the star approached me, I noticed a twinkle of motion within its blazing depths. With a mixture of trepidation and snoopiness, I turned my equipment on the rarity, hoping to get a glimpse of its actual nature.

To her amazement, a figure came out from the heart of the star, as its body pulsated with a jubilant glow that seemed to defy the laws of astrophysics and gravity itself. Its skin was a deep shade of yellow with two orange eyes that gleamed with a universal intensity.

It entered the black hole and somehow got behind my spaceship at the speed of lightning. After that, it pushed me out of the black hole in one blow.

I was dumbfounded by the creature's features, but I rapidly regained composure and began to come out of my spaceship with the interpreter because after all, this creature saved my life. Therefore, I could trust it. Could not I?

"Thank you for saving my life," I said and the creature smiled at me.

A voice, sweet and symphonic, spoke to me from within the star. It was a language I could not comprehend, and neither could my interpreter that kept showing some gibberish where the interpretation should be, but somehow, I knew that it was a good thing. My heart felt it even though it was indecisive for a moment, doubtful regarding what to do, but my inquisitiveness got the better of me.

I gazed at the star creature before me in absolute fascination and esteem. It was unlike anything I had ever witnessed before, beyond what I expected to ever see in this expedition of mine with my teleporting spaceship. I never thought of ever seeing a being made completely of light and energy, living within the heart of a star. My life and career were spent by studying the stories lurking behind the cosmos, but this encounter was beyond my wildest dreams.

"What are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

I spoke, in English, hoping that the creature would understand. To her dazzlement, it did. It replied in English too.

"I am Celestia," revealed the creature, "I'm a being that had been living within the star for as long as it could remember. I have been watching all the wonders of the world and the universe. And I am a wonder of this universe too.

"Indeed you are! You saved my life, Celestia," I replied as my heart raced with utter excitement, "My name is Mico. I am an astrophysicist."

"That is highly visible through your gadgets," replied Celestia, "I have been watching you for a long time now, and I am fascinated by your curiosity and your thirst for information, Mico. Also, your devices look very pristine and all in order, as if you're gonna be on an emergency mission today."

I was taken aback. I had never imagined that a creature from within a star would be talking to me and that too concerning my perspective on science. But this was indeed an opportunity like no other. I could spend hours talking to Celestia, exchanging knowledge and ideas, and learning about the secrets of the stars and the cosmos.

And eventually, when it could be time for me to leave, I could bid my goodbyes to the Celestia, promising to return soon because why cannot I? I own a teleporting spaceship. If I share her story, I would be a well-renowned astrophysicist not only in my country but internationally too.

As I moved away from the ship and followed the star, I could not help but feel a sense of wonder and amazement about how vast the field of astrophysics was. I was having one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life, and she knew that it was something that I can never forget.

"I am a fabrication of this star," said Celestia, and her soft voice echoed through my mind, "I am the fragrance of its force, the commodity of its glow. I was birthed and dwelled within this star as I watched the universe unfold around me."

I was entranced by Celestia's words and my thoughts and enquiries raced past my mind.

"Every creature is created for a purpose," I asked, "Do you have a purpose?"

"I exist," replied Celestia, simply, but sensationally, "That is my purpose, Mico. Also, I have a clear insight into the galaxies around me in such a way that humans cannot comprehend them. My existence is beyond your comprehension but I believe that you will solve the case of my existence someday."

Celestia left me with no word to say because she very much humbled me with her wisdom and was left speechless.

As I prepared to leave her, I spoke once more, "Remember, you are but a small part of this world, just as I am. Your existence is ephemeral but this world would go on even long after you're gone. So, bear that in mind, and dwell in your place of the cosmos, remembering how small each of us truly are, in such an immense system of stuff."

As I made my way back to her ship, Celestia called out, "Can't you stay with me for a day, Mico? Just one day?"

"Why not?" I said, beaming.

As I continued associating with Celestia I felt as if my entire view on the world was changing. Everything that was known and unknown was being challenged and I began seeing everything from a new point of view. I knew that after I go back home, I would never be the same. I had been given a glimpse into the true form of the universe, and I realised that of course, I would spend the rest of my life exploring it.

Time passed quickly and as we conversed, I learned that Celestia was a creature of total energy, with the ability to manipulate the very composition of space and time and was impressed by the creature's one-of-a-kind abilities. It was as if we embarked on a journey of discovery together and changed the pace of astrophysics forever.

Until the disaster took place.

Out of the blue, while I was talking to her, I heard a pop sound come from within her heart.

"Go away!" she hissed, "Stay away from me."

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked, perplexed.

"Supernova!" she yelled and I came to the realisation of what was going to happen.

“I cannot leave you like this!” I shrieked as her velvety hands shoved every inch of my body away “Celestia! Celestia! ”

A star that I had associated for three hours with, but felt as if I loved for three years, burst colossally as its core collapsed emitting a large force of energy and blinding brightness, without a trace of where she even was.

"Celestia…" my shuddery voice and blurry vision almost died at the inaudible noise and immense light.

“I have told you that I do not know who I am, what species I belong to, where I go to when I perish and so. But, I trust you and I do know that you will solve the mystery behind my story which I could not even solve yet. But now, you should go home, Mico. You should survive because you are the only one who can do this. I hope that you will find me someday. If you ever get reminded of me, kiss the stars goodnight," she said as her now-wrinkled hands parted my body while her voice was fading away with my vision.

“No! Please don't leave me, Celestia!” My screams rippled through the high energy of the explosion, but there was nothing that could stop it.

"Supernova light, Supernova Bright, A dying star we're being tonight," she muttered weakly and these were her last words, "I wish you may, I wish you might, make Mico go home safe tonight."

My vision which gradually began to dim was shaken at the sight of the ashes-like remnants of the explosion turning into a black hole which left no evidence that a star as such ever existed. It was a massive explosion of light and energy like a miniature sun going nova. Asteroids and comets were pulled into the maelstrom, disappearing into the heart of the supernova. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the supernova began to collapse in on itself. The shockwaves reversed direction, pulling matter back towards the core of the explosion.

The energy exerted by the explosion deafened my ears and I felt my eyes almost come out of me as I lost sight. Every inch of my body pricked in both physical and mental vexation; bruises formed on my neck and my arms and feet began swelling and throbbing as if I was stung by bees and hit by golf balls at the same time.

But, Celestia was right, I had to continue my voyage of life – it was the only way I could crack her case and find out her origins and her too someday. But, I could not stand the thought that she was caught in the explosion of the star and that she, was the dying star. I could not stand that the only fate she had was to remain gullible about who she actually was and vanish in a supernova without finding out her true identity. She entrusted to me, that one day I will find her and before that, her identity.

A sudden force was exerted on my body and I was sent to my teleporting spaceship and I hit the front seat hard. My hands randomly groped a few buttons and in the blink of an eye, I felt my life slip away as gravity dragged me down into a bottomless pit inside my spaceship itself. My breath almost parted from me and I lost consciousness.

Moments passed, and warmth took over my body as I opened my eyes to see the world around me get bright but less saturated, I felt something wrap around my wrists. It felt like human hands. I opened my eyes and realised that they were in fact, the human hands, of my fellow scientist friends Emerson and Raf.

I was finally breathing like normal again. I squinted my eyes and stared into my two buddies who helped me rise and stand on my two feet.

“Thank you guys, for helping me get up,” I said and headed to the window to glance at the starry night sky.