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Remember

Kathleen McCluskey

    As I sit here, I am reminded of those somber memories of the war. I remember Jack’s last words to me, as our world fell apart, “Remember, always remember...” then he was gone. A large tear runs down my face as his pale blue eyes engulf my mind’s eye. In retrospect we went about the struggle all wrong. Our foes were better equipped and their ferocity was unmatched by anything we had ever seen. The government should have launched the nukes. The planet was virtually dead anyway.
    I put the dry, faded daisies in his boot, as I have done for nearly a decade. I can see us running; trying to find safety; begging the fates to allow us one more day. I can distinctly recall the smell of burning human flesh, not from battle but from starvation. A large shudder grabs me as ravenous hunger consumed all of us. The beautiful fields that once held pears and apples, singed to oblivion. The chemicals that our opponents used decimated the populous. It didn’t kill them outright but would make them suffer a long and torturous ending. The guerilla warfare that was used with chemicals made us not want to eat anything growing on our beautiful planet. It was impossible to find safe dirt. Our beautiful blue orb was now one of barren soil. Scattered among the swirling dust plains were clusters of humans. I am in one of those clusters. Alone, hungry and forever scared; I look out the window. I can see the murderers coming for us. I can see them in the distance, panic grips all of those around me yet I remain calm. I miss Jack, I need to see him again; I am ready. My fighting days are long behind me, I will never be crippled by fear, again. I stand alone as the crowd rushes passed me trying to find safety.
    I can see them, their bright eyes; their long appendages reaching for us. Earth was never prepared for such an invasion. As I am scooped up in the feeding frenzy of our alien conquerors I am reminded of Jack. His blue eyes, his boot, the daisies and his last words, “Remember, always remember...” I did remember, now it is time for me to forget.

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