Dear Europa

Hello dearest Europa,

How’s your ice?

I’m sorry I’ve been MIA. I know I should have written sooner…

You know I’ve never been the best at keeping in touch—

I have no excuse, after all you’re only 40 light minutes away!

Well, what can I say?

Earth is crazy as ever, things are hard for the people here.

There’s poverty,

there are wars…

But I don’t want to talk about that, it’s all too sad.

I only want to talk about you!

I do hope you’re doing well.

I know it’s a cold existence for you, all alone out there.

But I suppose that’s how you like it, or atleast that’s your comfort zone.

I hope you’re finding ways to come out of your hard outer shell.

I suppose you are! We’re modeling your tidal flex and Hubble picked up some vapor plumes— cryovalcanoes!

I’m glad to see you’re finally opening up!

I know how you like to guard your secrets. I suppose that’s why I like you so much— you keep me captive in your mystery.

I know you won’t answer— last time I asked you kept it mum— but I’d kick myself if I didn’t beg your secrets one more time: is there life in your ocean? Truly?

The curiosity is practically ruining me.

I really do think of you all too often.

Won’t you just spill? I’m burning to know, tell me: do you host any life at all!

The optimist in me wants to say there must be something thriving beneath your crust! Are they bacteria or little protists— something like amoebas? Or algae-mats, feeding on organic chemicals and heat from your thermal vents?

Or—

Are there multicellular miracles down there?

When I close my eyes and dare to dream I see finned creatures— alien fish, scuttling sea-spiders and snails. You know I’d love to know your deepest secrets. Even if these critters seem ugly to most, I’d find them beautiful because they are of you!

I want to know who you are on the inside.

And I promise if you tell me, all secrets will be safe with me. If there are blind, geothermal crabs scavenging there, I will not spread the news— it will stay between us!

Sometimes I look at pictures of your beautiful smooth surface… I swear I can see your tholins— like a subtle grin— hinting at organic marvels beneath your surface!

Ah!

How I wish I could be with you!

But you’re so far out of my league.

Between the cold, the radiation, and the distance, we can never be united like I need.

I’ll never see the sunrise from your surface…. I’ll never feel the gentle tug and sway of Jupiter’s gravity in your sub-surface tides…

It’s all a pipe dream! But a guy can’t help wishing and wanting.

Yours now and forever,

-Sam

Authors note:

For the letters to the moon challenge :)

Hope nobody minds, as much as I love Luna, Europa is my current obsession.