Prologue

July 2, 2071.

“Nayvee, Robin, I have something to tell you.” My mom looked at us one at the time, then continued, “we can’t stay here. So, we’re going to the Moon.” Lacy Ramsey smiled faintly, probably hoping to encourage Robin and I.

“The Moon?” Robin, my thirteen-year-old brother, exclaimed.

Our mom grinned. “Yes! We’re going to stay there a bit, then head on to Mars. We’ll be one of the first families going! How does that sound?”

“Wonderful!”

“Horrible.” I declared bluntly.

“Nayvee!” Mom yelled, “See for yourself.” She steered me to  the window.

A very dark gray cloud of dust and smoke made it almost impossible to see. Orange flames rose up from abandoned buildings. People-faces mostly covered 

by a gas mask-walked around as if the smoke and fire were natural to them. 

It sure was natural to me. But, it’s true, we couldn’t stay here forever. The rest of my family had left for the most popular destination nowadays: the Moon. Colonies-buildings and roads- were already built, and from what I’d heard, people everyday were flooding there by the hundreds. 

Mom’s hand rested on my shoulders.

“I know you don’t want to go, Nayvee, but think about all the fun you’ll have!” 

“Yeah, fun.”

“Nayvee!” Her almond eyes locked in mine. “We can’t stay here, you know full well it’s impossible. Most of the buildings are destroyed and it’s only a matter of time before our house is too.” Mom suddenly gasped. “The fire’s coming, Nayvee, we have to go!”

 Robin, Mom, and I ran to our rooms to pack our meager belongings. I stuffed my 

clothes in a back-pack, then raced to Robin’s room. Plopping down on his bed, I stared at him quickly packing his clothes.

“Rob, we can’t go with Mom. It’s too early. Adena and I wanted to stay here, at least until this fall. Spend one last summer here.”

"Do you really think Mom’ll let us stay? Nayv, it’s very dangerous. Especially now. There are fires every day. Smoke and dust are everywhere.”

“I don’t care about fire, smoke, or dust. We could,” I thought for a moment, “go up to the mountains!”

“If you want to see a pile of rocks, sure. There isn’t any snow left. You know that.”

“Robin! I don’t care! Don’t you want to spend one last summer here? For memory’s sake? Come on, Rob! Please?”

Robin raised his hands. “I’m not the one that decides. Talk to Mom.”

I jumped up and raced to Mom’s room.

“Mom,” I started sweetly, “do you think Adena, Pearl, Micheal, Robin, and I could stay here until fall?”

Mom looked up from her open suitcase. “Nayvee! How many times do I have to say it? We can’t stay here!”

“But, Mom!” I pleaded.

“Mom sighed loudly, pushed her glasses back up her nose.

“Look,” I began, “I know it’s dangerous.”

“Then why do you want to stay?” Mom interrupted.

“For memories! And, because we’ll never come back here. I’ll be able to take pictures, and we’ll enjoy a few weeks on Earth for the last time.”

Mom delicately folded a few clothes and placed them in her suitcase. I twirled a  

strand of hair on my finger, something I always do when I’m bored or impatient, waiting for Mom’s answer.

“So?” 

Mom sighed. “Oh, alright, you may stay.”

I let out a whoop of joy and immediately hugged Mom. “Oh, thank you!”

“But only until September 1st. A rocket leaves then-it’s one of the last ones. Dad and I will be waiting for you when you arrive.”

 I squeezed Mom one last time before sprinting to Robin’s room to tell him the good news.

The last summer had begun…

Chapter  1 will come soon!

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