Page 54 of The Lottery

She gives Marek a peck on the cheek, causing a jealous flare within me that’s much more subdued than the ones I felt earlier this evening. Then she comes over to me and, instead of accepting the handshake I offer, leans in for a hug.

“My work here is done,” she whispers, kissing my cheek just as she did Marek’s.

With that, she saunters off toward the lift, her elegant form eliciting more than a few head turns from the nearby passengers.

An hour ago I hated her for being Marek’s date. Now she’s my second favorite person in the universe.

What did she mean, though? What work did she do here that’s now done?

“Ladies and gentleman,” Elspeth’s voice sings through the PA, “we are fifteen seconds away from the primary Ozone of Mars.”

After she speaks, the crowd seems to contract, everyone moving closer to the screen to get a better view. Right now all we see is gassy fog, but soon the face of the planet will come into view. I’m nervous about how I’ll feel when my eyes land on the rocky, red ground—a stark reminder of what we’ve lost and how far we have to go.

Hope, Zae. Be hopeful.

* * *

10

I hold my breath as Metis initiates a countdown to the beginning of our new existence.

9

The room is so silent you could hear a pin drop. Even as dozens of engines and thrusters fire off and fight the turbulent jet streams of our new world.

8

I think about our ancestors, who never would have dreamed of such a day.

7

I live on Mars now. Holy shit. I’m a Martian.

6

My heart leaps out of my throat as I feel Marek’s hand take mine. No one’s looking. After the last six weeks, we deserve this moment.

5

My Martian king and I.

4

The gasses begin to clear and the landscape below starts to come into view.

3

It’s red, different, lifeless. Jesus. How can we live here?

2

No, there’s life. We’ll find it. We’ll make it. We’ll make this place home.

1

* * *

The screen goes black.

---