Carnation (Part 1)

“Step this way as our tour of Earth continues.” - roared a mechanical voice through our tiny microphones. As soon as everyone stepped onto the illuminated blue platform, we began our descent into the world of our ‘ancestors’. Our Home.

“Due to the scarcity and instability of resources that humans consumed on daily bases, they found themselves next to a bottomless pit of emptiness in the year of 2030. This sparked conflicts, wars and nuclear bombings as humans resorted to their greed…” The mechanical voice never tired. It was a constant, emotionless symphony of meaningless sounds as it resonated through the visitors minds. We all knew that it was simply a popular attraction and not an exhibition ‘preserving’ terrifying mistakes and glories of our ‘ancestors’ that wiped out most of the population a decade ago.. Everyone moved on... People were blinded by countless opportunities on their new home planet “Oserys”.

Beneath the lush greenery of forests moved closer to us. On Oserys there are rivers, man made canals, to support the ever growing lifeless woodlands. Everything is cultivated by hands, mechanics and imagination. Boundless imagination.. Reindeers with emerald green eyes and magnificent golden hooves; houses living their own life of seclusion, moving around on their chicken legs. It is a combination of cultures, races, myths, legends all intertwined in our daily lives, as new models of creatures erupt with vivid colors and shapes every day.

“Make sure to stay on the pathway outlined by the glowing arrows. Every three meters you will see one of our holographic advisors. They are ready to assist you with any concern. In case of the emergency you will hear a siren, please follow one of our advisors on site to the nearest emergency exit. Our last ship will leave in three hours. Enjoy your stay.”

She walked through the dimly illuminated pathway, wondering how many like her are out there. Children ran around, laughter ringing in the air. Holograms appeared on every corner. They represented the old wildlife. The “lost creatures”. To ensure people weren’t upset, they used euphemism for everything “old”. Only a decade ago.. “This is a terrifying depiction of what an outburst of nuclear power can bring down upon the human kind, and everything around it. Millions of people died from starvation, wars and radiation exposure. Knowledge worth thousands of years simply vanished. However, some people managed to escape, fleeing on the closest airships to their new home, Oserys. A beautiful paradise cultivated by dreamers, to restore life. They swore not to repeat mistakes...”

Following 100th arrow, she took out the microphones microchip, collapsing its GPS system. She made a rapid left turn and began her way towards the beaming sunlight. This was uncharted territory. The air was rich with dampness and fragrance of leaves, as it was back then. Walking through the ancient forest, she felt life freeze inside the welcoming darkness. She lovingly touched the twisted roots. Thousands of eyes were locked on her. They waited.

Life on the new planet, Oserys, is easy, carefree. After two years, everything was done for us; coffee was made and brought to the table, jobs were handed over to precise tireless machines. And people became human again. Life is filled with festivals, arts, music, carelessness and love. There is no fear, no mourning, no memories.

She walked through the scorched meadow and found herself standing on a crumbling edge. The edge of the world and her memories. Wind rustled through her hair, softly cooing the words of promise of better beginnings. Beneath her the water was roaring with anticipation. The turquoise unfathomable depth merged with the horizon, spilling into the clear skies above. The woods behind her stood ominously quiet. They paused, waiting, giving her time to make her decision. All that could be heard was the soft murmuring of the leaves, as they looked down upon her, gathering their last rays of sunlight.

Her gaze fixated on the burnt patch of grass, now barely seen in the new life emerging from the ground in the shape of tiny bellflowers, whispering a careless song of hope and love. Something so far and untouchable for them. Her mind drifted off to the dreadful day.. News of the upcoming attack were the talk of the town. Most people fled, some hid underground, but her family remained calm. On Tuesday, 23rd of January, her parents gathered a small picnic basket and left to the edge at 10:15. At 12:57 sirens wailed across the town. Waves of people stomped around, crashing into each other, overflowing the streets. She and her sister were dragged out of the house towards the maddened crowd. She threw a glance back, screaming for her parents, but all she saw were two distant figures right at the edge, waiving their last goodbye. At 13:05 she was flung into an airship. At 13:07 all life disappeared..

Her auburn hair glowed in the settling burning sun. The tangerine disk melted in the water. Red hues, lit her face, caressing with loving care. Tears like tiny drops of ocean water, rolled down her cheeks. Shadows, dancing on the mountains edge, came to save her dignity, hiding her face in their cold embrace.

She knew what she had to do. For her Home. She longed to feel her mother’s embrace, immerse into her sister’s stories and cry in her father’s strong arms, forgetting the past decade.

The waves were wild horses, rearing, shrieking, before crashing down onto the yellowstone edge of the world, pounding the rocks with their white foam hooves. The whole world was breathing, living, collapsing in front of her eyes. She felt boundless eternity touch her from within. Her heart trembled as the withering cold claws crawled through her veins. She knew the moment has come. The chilling sea breeze bit into her, pushing her back from the edge, fighting with her stubbornness. But she stood her ground. She looked into the depth of the crashing waves, into the aquamarine depths of her destiny. She felt the strength surge through her, drowning last drops of uncertainty. She turned around and slowly walked towards the burnt edges. The decaying grass crunched and cackled under her feet. Taking a deep breath…

She placed three carnations.

For her sister. Her father. Her mother.

And slowly walked away.

“Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the planet Earth.”