×

Beneath Missing Tiles: The Orbit of Unspoken Fears

from: Portrait Image of Person Myung-hoMyung-ho    to: Portrait Image of Person Eun-haEun-ha    Marker Icon for the Link to the Citymap
The image shows a close-up view of two spacecraft in orbit above Earth, captured in a vintage style with a warm tint and grainy texture. The foreground features a conical spaceship with visible panel lines, small circular windows, and a pattern of white and black tiles on its surface. In the background, part of another spacecraft with cylindrical modules and solar panels is visible. The curved blue-and-white expanse of Earth forms the backdrop, stretching across the horizon, partially obscured by the shadowed bottom edge of the image. The scene evokes a sense of retro space exploration.


Dear Eun-ha,

Your words are like light glancing off water. I read them, and for a moment I’m there with you, floating, the earth a slow-turning marble beneath your feet. I love the way you describe the world—as if the sky confides its secrets only to you.

But there’s something I have to tell you. Not everything. Just enough so you understand why I feel… different these days.

A few nights ago, I was at the lab late. Two men from the space program came in, talking like the room was empty. They didn’t see me. They spoke quietly, but the words were sharp enough to cut the air.

They were talking about your capsule, Eun-ha. About the heat shield. One of them said he’d seen images from the station’s external cameras. Said too many tiles might have come off during launch. That maybe the shield wouldn’t hold if it had to face the violence of reentry.

He didn’t say it outright—but I heard it in his voice: that the capsule might burn up. That you might never come home.

And there’s more. I keep hearing talk of oxygen levels dropping on the station. People say it’s under control. But I don’t know who to believe anymore.

I didn’t want to tell you any of this. I still don’t. You’re up there, alone, carrying enough weight already. But the thought of pretending… I can’t. You deserve the truth—or at least a sliver of it.

Don’t panic, please. Maybe they’re wrong. Maybe the engineers will fix it. They always say space is all about margins, calculations, risk. Maybe the odds are still in your favor.

I wish I could crawl into that sky and pull you back down myself.

But until then… tell me about the lightning storms. About the stars listening to your secrets. Let me hold onto your voice. It’s the only thing keeping me from drowning in all the things I can’t say.

Promise me you’ll be careful. And promise me, if there’s ever a choice to stay safe, you’ll choose it. Even if it means waiting longer to come home.

I love you, beyond the limits of atmosphere and reason.

Yours, trembling between earth and sky,
Myung-ho

Related Postcards
A middle-aged couple is embracing warmly in a dimly lit room. The woman, with closed eyes, rests her head against the man's shoulder, while he gently holds her, exuding a sense of comfort and care. They wear dark coats and appear content. In the background, there are stacked boxes with Korean writing on them, and a large copper-colored distillation apparatus, suggesting an industrial or workshop setting. The lighting casts a cozy, intimate atmosphere over the scene.

Beneath the Ashes, Beneath the City

A person is sitting in an armchair in a dimly lit room, facing an old-fashioned television. The TV shows a person in a pink outfit against a blue background with text and images. The room is warmly lit with yellow light from a lamp on the right. Behind the chair, sheer curtains are drawn across a window, filtering the exterior light. Papers or sheets are scattered on the floor in front of the chair, adding a casual, perhaps cluttered feel to the scene.

Not Her

The image shows three people in an astronaut cockpit, wearing orange spacesuits with white helmets resting on their laps. They are seated side by side, facing a complex array of control panels filled with numerous buttons and screens. The image has a blurred effect, giving a sense of motion or multiple exposures. The individuals appear focused, gazing toward the screens in front of them. The interior of the cockpit is metallic and densely packed with technical equipment, creating an authentic spaceflight setting.

When the Sky Tightens

A circular window, possibly from a spacecraft, frames a view of Earth from space. The image shows a vast expanse of darkened terrain with a faint, hazy atmosphere and cloud formations visible near the horizon. The metallic edges of the window are highlighted in different colors due to the reflection of light, hinting at the structure's material and design. The image has a grainy quality, suggesting it might have been taken with a film camera or has been digitally altered for artistic effect. The perspective gives the impression of floating in orbit, looking down on the planet.

Still in Orbit, Still in Love

A person in a space-themed environment, wearing a light-colored space suit with patches on the shoulder and chest, is seated inside what appears to be a spacecraft. The interior features control panels with various screens, dials, and switches. The individual has dark hair, tied back, and is smiling at the camera. To the right, a circular window shows a glimpse of Earth from space. The lighting gives the scene a vintage, sepia-toned appearance.

From Orbit, With Doubt

A vintage-style photograph depicts a room filled with rows of seated individuals all facing a large screen displaying a rocket launch. The room has a mid-20th-century appearance with wooden paneling and a large window adorned with curtains on the left wall. The audience, dressed in suits, watches attentively. A man stands to the right of the screen, appearing to give a presentation about the rocket launch. The overall color palette is warm with a slightly faded look, enhancing the retro ambiance.

Beyond the Calculations

A black and white photograph showcasing a rocket on a launchpad, viewed from a high angle through a window. The rocket is upright and centered in the frame, surrounded by scaffolding and launch structures. The background shows an expansive, desolate landscape with hints of construction and roads. The window through which the image is taken adds a soft, blurred frame around the scene, emphasizing the height and distance from which the photo was captured. The overall atmosphere is historic and industrial.

Waiting with both feet on the ground

A group of engineers in blue lab coats are gathered around a large, golden-hued rocket component, which stands upright on a workstation. The device is cylindrical with a pointed tip and is surrounded by various equipment and wiring. The engineers are focused on different tasks, some adjusting controls and others examining the machinery. The room is spacious with large windows, and sunlight filters in, casting soft shadows. In the background, there are other pieces of equipment and a tall storage unit filled with technical instruments. The atmosphere suggests a meticulous, collaborative work environment typical of a high-tech laboratory.

Don’t Show Anyone

The image shows a close-up of a women inside a space helmet, looking directly at the viewer. Their expression conveys a mix of emotions, perhaps concern or sadness, with a single tear rolling down their cheek. The helmet's interior is visible around their face, and there is a reflection of light on the helmet's visor, adding to the dramatic and emotional tone of the image. The lighting highlights the person's facial features, and the overall color palette is muted, creating an atmospheric effect.

If I Don’t Return