Homesick

This is home now, red and round. Winds constantly blow the amber sand across the flat landscape sometimes creating swirling whirling circles of dirt ghosts holding hands like children playing games in a red schoolyard. The monotony of the landscape is sometimes interrupted by crevasses like veins twisting their way along the smooth flat ground. I wonder who once stood on these ruddy riverbanks ready to dive into cool refreshing water, but I know it will never be me. These cracks are long since dried up, never again to provide refreshment or recreation.

I am one of the lucky ones. My neighbors who live not so close by are also lucky ones. We were chosen and given a second chance. Some suspected the earth would never survive the abuse we humans had inflicted upon it. It had once been beautiful and lush with green rain forests and soft powdery deserts. Tall trees reached for the sky holding their branches out and waving gracefully as gusts of clean clear air wafted past. Blue rivers flowed to wild green oceans that rolled upon sandy shores leaving foam and sea creatures scurrying to make it back to the water. Now, the earth cried out in pain with overpopulation, overabundance, and a lack of caring. Soon it started to fight back with hurricanes, wild fires, and earthquakes that left destruction and devastation in their paths. From the ashes rose new viruses that led to plagues. Much of the population died out, leaving only those strong enough and ruthless enough to fight for their needs. Humans were now motivated by hunger and need much like animals. Humans survived, but humanity itself became endangered.

The government hired scientists and researchers who worked day and night and filled the airwaves with promises of relief and remedy, but none came. Politicians poured out propaganda promising better. It only got worse. Soon, it seemed the earth would not survive this ill-fated infirmity, leaving the dwellers of the big blue planet homeless. One day, the resolute researchers announced the successful colonization of Mars. They patted themselves on the back for saving our species, but never took into account the cost of the venture. Soon the fortunate few of the planet came forward with large donations to secure their manors on Mars. They were convinced of their vital importance to the project, but were smart enough to realize they didn’t want to even attempt to make it on Mars on their own. They had become accustomed to certain comforts, even midst all the recent suffering of the world’s population. So, they began to gather service people from all around the big blue ball. Doctors, nurses, teachers, cooks, plummers, and electricians were just a few of the neccessary needed personnel. They were interviewed extensively and tested for their intelligence as well as their physical and mental health.

Those of us who passed the examinations are called the lucky ones. We were piled onto great ships and transported to our new home. We were given our own home in a red flat land. We were told the earth would soon be gone. We were lucky. We were saved by the elite of the earth, to serve them. So we served them gladly. We were their nurses and nannies. We cooked their meals and unclogged their drains. We built them new homes and sewed them new clothes. We were lucky. They saved us from destruction and elimination. They saved us from the end... that never came.

Beth Raeihle

08/12/2020