- written by Reya Panchmatia (12 years old)
- awarded the "Bronze Award" at The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023
July 26th, 2031 Exactly a year ago, I woke up that fateful Sunday morning, bleary-eyed. Little did I know that I would be on another planet a year later. Let me explain. Back on Earth, there has been a drought that has stretched on for months. Caused by low rainfall because of climate change, crops died, lands were parched, and all of Earth’s water sources dried. There’s been a dramatic drop in the availability of food and prices skyrocketed. Even people who could easily afford to eat three meals a day are struggling to get enough, let alone those who were toiling away to get by in the first place. Some of the brightest young minds were selected to go to Mars, in search of fertile lands; more land to feed the greed on Earth, to propel greed’s exploitation. As the resources on Earth are drained, Mars is viewed as a backup plan. I was among the third team to be sent there. The central government mobilised me that morning. Three buzzes on the mobile phone jolted me rudely awake, sending vibrations through my body. Infinite Abundance was the name of the spaceship we embarked on.
After spending weeks in zero gravity, we arrived. Upon laying foot on planet Mars, I saw makeshift buildings in the distance, proudly erect in the rocky ground of the planet. Since I arrived, everyone here has spent long hours huddled in groups, discussing their latest finds or out on the surface collecting soil samples. After countless hours spent hunched over microscopes, we discovered that certain chemicals in the soil on Mars make it incredibly fertile. Some of it will be brought back to Earth, while the rest remains here. In no time, a team of biologists will be up here, poking and prodding at the soil. Soon, the whole surface of the Red Planet will be covered in greenhouses and vertical farms, the buildings stretching as far as the eye can see. We’ve been here for over six months. Our work here is done. We’re due to return to Earth tomorrow. We’re the very last team leaving this planet. I can’t wait to join everyone else back home! July 27th, 2031 It’s a few hours after the spaceship has taken off—but I’m not on it. The communication system has been malfunctioning, and my team wasn’t notified that we would be leaving earlier. The spaceship is gone, hurtling through space. We are the only remaining souls on this planet. We can’t contact anyone. Whenever we try, loud static fills the room. I’m scratching these words on a notepad I brought from Earth, trying to calm down. We’ve decided to take shifts sitting in front of the huge monitors in the communications centre, and it’s my turn right now. However, there’s nothing to do except stare blankly at the screen, while I try to keep myself from floating away from the seat. August 1st, 2031 We’ve been stuck here for a few days now. With nothing to do, I’ve been spending most of my time staring at the wall while lost in thought. I can’t believe that the endless expanse of rocks and sand, the towering mountains, and the impact craters that have been here since ancient times are all going to be destroyed. Just for the sake of bringing machinery and technology up here where it doesn’t belong, this planet which has been around for millions of years will never be the same as it once was. It’s a shame this untouched beauty will soon be ruined. August 3rd, 2031 We did it! After so long, we managed to communicate with the team back on Earth. One of my teammates, Lia, is a tech whizz and managed to get the communications system up and running at last. We are due to return to Earth on the next spaceship. The spaceship, which was already on course for Mars to deposit construction materials for the colonization of the Red Planet, will be here in a few days’ time. August 8th, 2031 I’m strapped into my seat on the spaceship, taking a final look at the expanse of brick-red ground and deep canyons. It may be the last time I ever see these vast stretches of soil and rocks. If I ever catch a glimpse of it again, there will be towering metal structures full of beeping, whirring technology; the natural beauty disrupted. I can only hope against hope this beautiful place stays this way forever.
Commentaires