This was a really powerful, engaging story. You did a particularly great job of covering your bases in terms of explaining why John couldn't return home. At every step of the story, I'd start to think, "Well why couldn't he just..." and then the story would have a reason why that solution wouldn't work. Great job staying one step ahead of the reader (or one step ahead of this reader, at least!).

I honestly have no suggestions for improvement. I really enjoyed this story. I was going to suggest that John taking a moment to admire the Earth and think of his family back home at the opening of the story felt a little out of place considering that he was in the middle of a crisis, but like the other narrative points, you set it up well to resolve that disparity by the end of the story.

This was an excellent story and I really enjoyed the read. Nice work!