Regret Consumed Her Husband and Son After She LeftChapter 1
1990, at the selection site for test pilots in an aviation academy.
"Astrella Brooks?"
"Present!"
"Are you willing to voluntarily participate in the supersonic test flight mission? The mission duration is indefinite, the location classified and once you commit, contact with the outside world will be prohibited except under special circumstances. Please confirm!"
"I confirm!" Astrella declared, her voice unwavering. "I am willing to join the test flight mission to protect the skies of our motherland!"
"Test flight missions are inherently perilous. Are you prepared to sacrifice your life if the mission demands it?"
Astrella’s faint smile carried quiet determination. "I’ve long since accepted the risks of life and death. Without the sacrifices of test pilots, the advancement of aviation would never take flight."
Test pilots were known as "the profession closest to death in peacetime."
One tiny misstep could mean a fatal end.
Hearing her response, the chief examiner gave a curt nod, handing her a sealed document. "Open this only after you return home," he instructed. "If, after reading the contents, your resolve remains steadfast, call the number inside. Our team will arrange to pick you up at the designated time and place."
He hesitated before adding, "According to our records, Comrade Brooks, you have a young son and—"
Before he could finish, Astrella cut him off with unwavering resolve. "I won’t hesitate! Yes, I have a child, but I am not officially married to his father. We’ve been separated for some time now. My family situation will not interfere with my decision."
After speaking, she gave a deep, respectful bow. Straightening her back, she strode out of the interview room with a resolve that left no room for doubt.
Her marriage had long turned into a stagnant pool, a lifeless bond without a solidifying certificate. They had been living apart for years and yet, at just twenty-six, in the prime of her youth, no one truly understood her.
When their marriage was supposed to be formalized, she had dutifully reported the paperwork to her unit. But Raiden received a phone call and, without a word, left in a hurry.
She waited in vain, lingering at the entrance of the civil affairs bureau from dawn until dusk. Even when the doors closed, Raiden never appeared.