BAM

The loud sound startled David awake. Something felt off. David stayed in his bed a few more minutes trying to identify this feeling. The only sound he heard was a car engine softly speeding away. He waited for the thunder again, ready to hide under his sheets, but it never came. After some time, light started to creep through the blinds. His anxiousness couldn't be contained any longer. He grabbed his toy robot and started to wander the house.

The door to his parents' room was ajar, empty. The heavy feeling in the air continued, increased by the silence. The rain had stopped. He continued through the house, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, when he found his mother, Julia, in the kitchen. She was standing over the sink, staring out the window, not noticing David. Her auburn hair hung messy down her back. She didn't have the time to put it up in her usual ponytail. Her shoulders were slumped, and she seemed oblivious to the cup of coffee in her hands as she idly stirred it with a spoon.

"Mom?" David called, softly tugging on her robe.

Julia slowly looked down at David, her lips trembling as she forced a smile. "Good morning, honey," she said, taking a sip of coffee to hide her shaky voice.

"Did Dad come home?"

Julia braced herself and after a deep, shaky breath, replied, "He did, but couldn't stay to wake you. He got called into work." She could not help the few tears that escaped her.

David just nodded, too focused on his mother's tears to ask anything more. "Can I go play outside?"

Julia's expression softened, "Of course, just make sure to put on your boots and coat." She set her coffee down and hugged David just a little too tight. She kissed him on the forehead and ruffled his hair. "I'll have breakfast ready in a bit."

David nodded eagerly and darted back to his room to get dressed. A few minutes later he was standing at the front door doing final checks on his suit. He opened the door and stepped out onto the pad.

A quick chirp of static came over his earpiece, announcing a voice from Control. "Be careful out there today, David. There are strong winds and one false step could send you plummeting."

David's confidence never faltered. A wide smile crossed his face as he lowered his goggles. "Thanks for the heads up, Control, but that has never stopped me before." He walked out onto the pad and waited as the researchers strapped on the new jetpack. Today was just another standard test, nothing fancy. All he had to do was make small bursts between platforms. Even so, you never really forgot the feeling of being suspended with nothing but sky below you.

"Final check complete," Control stated. "On your count, David, do this by the books."

"Copy, Control." David started sprinting to the edge of the platform. "And..... GO!" he shouted as he pressed the thrust button in his hands. They must have changed the fuel type, David thought to himself as he was forcibly tugged into the air. "Careful of the first step. It's got a lot of power now," he reported.

David looked down to see only soft clouds below him as he arced to the next platform. He couldn't help an exhilarating laugh escape as he touched down on solid ground again. After catching his breath, he once more sprinted to the edge. This time he jumped off before hitting the thrust, disappearing for a short moment beneath the platform before rocketing skyward again.

"No fancy stuff, David!" Control blared over the earpiece. "If we can't keep in visual contact, we won't be able to send rescue until it's too late."

"Sorry, I couldn't help it," David replied sheepishly. "The team did such a great job with this new version." He continued to the end of the platforms.

Once more, Control came over the earpiece. "Okay, David, time to come home."

David took a moment to stare out over the endless clouds. He thought to himself, one day I'll make it out there.

"David!" Julia called, snapping him out of his adventure. "Come in."

David turned around and started to head back, his pants wet from jumping in the puddles on the driveway. He slowly walked back inside, passing up the puddles this time.

Inside, Julia had breakfast ready. "There you are, my little dreamer," she said with a soft smile, though her vibrant green eyes still held a hint of sadness. "Sit down and eat up."

David climbed into his chair, his robot still clutched tightly in his hand. He looked at his mother and repeated the words she had told him the night before. "It's okay, Mom. Just some water in the clouds."

Julia's eyes filled with tears again, but this time she managed a genuine smile, her freckles framing the dimple in her left cheek. "That's right, honey. Just some water in the clouds."