Promise

R O S E

PROMISE W A L L A C E

SAYING GOODBYE IS THE HARDEST PART

I walk towards my family I can see the fright and despair in their eyes, I know what I’m doing is dangerous but I have to, if I want to make the world we live in something different, something better, and something where we can stay alive.As now the world once beautiful and simple, is now something scarce and dreadful.

Forests have been blown apart by monstrous flames, gunshots can be heard all around and the air is as black as night. Where we stand is a battle field. I am the world’s only hope.

As I look over at my family across the cement fields far away from the rocket the size of a skyscraper, only one thing keeps on playing through my mind. That I Vance O’Brian am being sent up to mars, to help humanity and give them a second chance to do things right.

I look at my daughter, Becca, who is the spitting image of my wife. Her face quickly became white with fear but I was probably was the same. As scientists run for cover from the exploding bombs dropping down hitting the rocky concrete around us, I look at my daughter.

“Goodbye sweetheart, I’ll see you soon,” “When though?”

“Soon,” “Promise?”

I draw a cross on my heart, then look deep into her beautiful hazel eyes. I take her pinkie and shake it with such confidence because I know that I will be back.

“I promise.”

Then I look at my gorgeous wife, Mikayla, who is hard to see through the black hazy smoke that fills the air. I can see the tears start to fill her eyes and I know she’s trying to hold them back.

“You know you’re the only one who believed in me, and I think, no, I know that you’re the bravest person I ever met.”

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, Vance O’Brian.”

“Goodbye, beautiful,” “Don’t say that!”

“Say what?”

“Goodbye, because it’s not the end, it’s the begging in a new chapter in life,” “Okay, hello” “Hey. I almost forgot, Becca sweetheart give daddy the picture you made him,” Becca handed me a crumpled up piece of paper, I thought she would explain it to me with excitement but instead she just stepped back silently keeping to herself.

“Thank you sweetheart” However I didn’t open it I just shoved it into the pocket of my green camo pants, which was filled with dried stale tissues. I look up at Mikayla and we just stood there looking at each other in complete silence, looking back on all the things that we had accomplished. Then I look at Becca remembering the day she was born, the day she said her first word, the day she took her first steps and the day, actually today when we say goodbye, no, hello.

Gun shots from in the distance quickly broke the silence and then I realise it’s time to go.

I grab my daughter and I hug her so tight. I then take my wife into my arms, as she whispers into my ear, “Don’t give up!”

As the 112 foot monster starts to rumble I look 30 feet down from the side window at my wife and daughter. I couldn’t see their faces, as they are huddled up together.

In the distance I could see bombs going off and flickering flames eating away. However none of that matters anymore because this time humanity has a second chance.

10, 9, 8…….

As the countdown starts I open the piece of paper that my Becca gave me. It was picture, I get pictures from her all the time but this time it’s something special. As it’s a picture of us as a family and silently under my breath I whispered, “I promise.”

3, 2, 1.