[ WP ] The nations of the world have reached the space age without ever traversing the Atlantic Ocean and discovering the Americas . The first man in space looks out his capsule window .

Yuri unbuckled the black strap binding him to the solitary seat in the capsule. He weightlessly propelled away. Arms flailing behind his body, he ungracefully navigated himself across the short expanse between his chair and one of the two portholes. He bathed his eyes in the vastness of the inky darkness confronting his vision. The messy lights of stars pitted the otherwise undisturbed silk tapestry. 
 
 “ What a cosmos to explore. ” 
 
 He hoped beyond reason would allow that the opening of a new area for exploration could act as a valve to dampen the tensions of the nations of Eurasia. In a perfect future, he thought that countries could attempt to conquer vacant planets. The exponentially growing populations, rapidly shrinking water sources, and steadily building animosity had turned the continent into an unpinned grenade held by the hand of fear. 
 
 He turned around. Launching with his toes towards the other porthole, he was anxious to see his world on a scale no one else had experienced. Somersaulting through the air, he imagined seeing the contours of borders disappearing beneath canopies and rivers meandering indiscriminately across a green Eden. Perhaps he would see cities as nodes of lights grasping towards each other with thin tendrils crowded with travelers. 
 
 Reaching the porthole, he pressed against its cold surface. 
 
 He struggled to recognize the mass beneath him. The realization obliterated a sense of hope. Any oasis of optimism present in his mind withered and wasted away. Damp deep breaths obscured the window. 
 
 “ Blessed be their souls, ” he said in a wobbling voice. 
 
 Facing him bare was a landmass that was not Eurasia. But the existence of a second continent was not what forced his prayer. It was the constant unwinking emanation of light that dotted the dark canvas in front of him. Soon, he thought, those people ’ s entire world will turn to night in the throes of a great war for dominion by the nations that he had so hoped to direct towards space. 
 
 A small tear pooled just in front of his green eyes. It pinched away, hovering towards the window. It sprawled itself against the tiniest portion of the window. A city of millions was distorted under the tear ’ s quivering volume. 
 
 Edit: First attempt at a prompt so critique would be great. Thanks.
