Another Way

~Chapter 7~

Three Years Later...

I sit on the stone front porch of my tiny dwelling as the morning sun rises from behind the dreary horizon of Zaul. Today is my sixteenth birthday and well... it's not what I dreamed this day to be like. I imagined pink and white streamers hanging from the ceiling, pumping beats in the background as all my friends and family dancing to the music, and rows of tables piled with mounds of fine cuisine and sweet treats. Instead I get nine of the last humans in the whole universe and a quaint town with hundreds of dwellings made for when our population expands. It's definitely not what I had in mind but they are my people.
The faint glow of the similar sun as the one from earth, casts a light over the open water in front my dwelling giving it a sparkle. Such a beautiful morning.
A firmilar presence of someone tells me to turn around, and I do. Leaning against the wall of my dwelling is a lean muscular man with a tight black uniform and jet black eyes. Nixon.
"It's a good morning for a birthday." Nixon says coming over to sit beside me. At the beginning of my life on the Lorain I only had Aavet and my childhood bear for company, but then I met Nixon. He was the same age as me when he was assigned to train with my Lorain doctor. We got to know each other during daily check ups and then began an ongoing and a long lasting friendship.
"I guess. Why are you here? Aren't you suppose to be at the Ceremony of Graduation?" I ask him, fiddling with a strand of my ginger hair.
"Thought I'd wish you a happy birthday. Is that not a good enough of an excuse?"
I roll my eyes in response."Thank you, but I think you should get going before you get yelled at for being late."
"Fine, but I'll meet you at the Celebration Hall in the town square at sunset," he gets up to leave then adruptely turns around holding out a small box with a green ribbon tied around it. "Here... it's a little something I thought you'd appreciate." Then he was gone.
With a smile plastered to my face, I slowly untie the ribbon and then pop open the box. I freeze. Inside is a small seed that resembles a maple tree seed. I cover my mouth with my hand in surprise that something so innocent from earth is still able to survive in this alien world. How did Nixon get this?
I rise from where I sit to enter my dwelling,I then climb the stair case leading up to my room that is identical to the one on Lorain and back on earth. I place the seed in a ceramic pot that is already filled with soil from earth, then I dig a hole with my index finger so the seed's roots grow and finally, I pat the soil drizzling water from a glass full of Zaul water. You'll get a second chance just like I did, little one.
Looking out the window in front of me the plain landscape of brown grass (but very much alive), the spiral branches of the Adam trees that appear like twigs, and the beige town always greets my eyes like a black and white movie. That's something I miss about earth, all the color and cheerfulness. You definitely don't see vibrant or even pastels of color anyway on Zaul.
Zaul is smaller than Earth and the majority of the planet is salt water. There's about three major land masses: Land of Xileons, Hope Island, and L'hirs. Us humans, live on Hope Island and the Xileons obviously live on the Land of Xileons. The Xileons think having us living in their direct society is poisoning to their way of living and harmful to their people. In a way they are right. Humans were destroying earth with fossil fuels and over population. Don't forget our violence and greed. Our world wasn't perfect and either is the Xileons. They say they are peaceful and selfless, but I've seen them shove my people around like their rag dolls. Like they're nothing.
Outside the window far in the distance, I notice Aavet making her way towards the Meal House that holds our breakfast meal each sunrise. Crap. I'm late!
I scurry on down the staircase and then I take flight on down the road leading to the Meal House. Before I reach the building, Aavet notices me and stops in her tracks. A wide grin spreads from eye to eye on her face and an elegant milk chocolate ponytail whips in the slight breeze.
"Forgot about breakfast again?" Aavet asks still with a grin.
"No... well sort of, but the sunrise was too magnificent to miss." I explain as she links her arm around mine in our journey to breakfast.
"I guess that's a good enough excuse since it's your birthday."
With the mention of my birthday I picture the maple seed that Nixon gave me. It's a seed from earth. How is that even possible? Maybe he took the seed from earth before every living died on the planet, but then again,it couldn't last that long without the proper supplies it needs to survive, right?
"Did I say something wrong or something?" Aavet asks giving me a curious side glance.
"No no, its just... never mind."
Aavet halts our movement then turns to face me,"What's wrong?" Our uplifting conversation evaporates into the Zaul atmosphere as she now turns down a more serious route. A crease between her eyebrows replaces her picture perfect smile, while I feel annoyed that she cares this much by a simple deep thought I've had.
"Nothing's wrong. I swear," I state, giving her an emotionless stare.
After what feels to be forever, she says,"Fine. Don't come knocking on my door if you're going to have a meltdown though." A corner of her mouth lifts into a slight smile and then a burst of giggles explodes from within her.
"Your funny," I tell her with a slight hint of sarcasm and a playful shove. Aavet can never be serious.
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Just so you all know all the names I've given my characters and etc. are all my original ideas.
Qui- pronounced key
Hawii- pronounced ha-we
Zaul- pronounced za-all
Lorain- pronounced low-rain
Nixon- pronounced nix-on
If you're wondering about any other name or something don't be afraid to ask.:) Plus, don't forget to vote! Love you all!