Elias looked down. The world below was an indistinct blur of sapphire and white. There was no horizon, only the terrifying realization that the Earth was receding. The gravity well hadn't just flipped; it had vanished. They weren't falling toward a destination; they were falling into the vacuum.
Elias tilted his head back. Away from the lights of the vanished cities, the galaxy was a spilled bucket of diamonds. It was beautiful, silent, and indifferent. He stopped fighting the wind. He tucked his arms against his chest and closed his eyes, letting the momentum carry him. Falling Falling
"Still falling," Elias confirmed, tucking a ration bar into his helmet’s feed-slot. "The altimeter on my suit just stopped. I think I’ve passed the troposphere." Elias looked down
Should the "falling" be (like this sci-fi version) or metaphorical (falling in love, falling from grace)? What is the target age group for the story? The gravity well hadn't just flipped; it had vanished
"Hello?" he croaked. His voice felt heavy, unused to the thin air.
He wasn't falling anymore. He was flying. He just hadn't reached the stars yet.