Fusia

Chapter 3

Tossing and turning in the cot in my shared lounging I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see Earth being bombed by our unknown enemy until it decimated. I was walking by the observation bay of our corridor when I saw it happened. I fell on my knees and felt like I couldn't breathe. Ashlyn and I were on our way from the recreational hub to the education corridor to pickup Alaric from his last class of the day. I tried so hard not to cry in front of Ashlyn but I couldn't breathe. It was Leon that found me there. My beloved big brother always to protect me. He helped me up and embraced me, took us to my lounging and told me he'd take Ashlyn and pickup Alaric. He was given permission by his superior that he could take the day off to help his family. All will be explained to the adults at the evening rations.

It's been over a month now since Earth was destroyed, my husband with it. I knew I'd never see him again but I still prayed that I would feel his warmth again. Liz and I held each other that night and every now and then we still do. Our babies are too young to understand why their mommies are crying. Luckily our lounging has another mother, her son and an orphan all three of us women took claim too. When one of us needs to be alone the other women takes the kids out for a time. Or if Liz and I both are in woe, Maria will take them all out. Our shared lounging has became like a family unit. We all lean on each other for support. Maria had no spouse on Earth and her parents had passed a few month before we were evacuated so she doesn't have anyone she particularly grieves for. She is our rock for the most part. Liz and I are blessed to have her in our unit.

"Ellie, are you okay?" Whispered Maria, she climbed out of her cot and quietly padded over to mine. "You haven't slept and it almost rising time. I have some sleep aid Leon gave to me if you need some? I can cut one in half so you can get some kind of rest before our colony meeting. I'll take care of the kids for you but you need to sleep Hun."

"Leon gave you sleep aids?" I asked in suspicion. Leon may be Medic for the Officials but I'm sure he can get in trouble for that.

"Of course, last week I couldn't sleep and he was concerned." Oh, that's right. Maria and Leon are 'talking'.

"Sure, it's just every time I close my eyes I see Earth being destroyed all over again. And now colonies are disappearing. I'm worried of what's to come. Are we to live on this ship for the rest of our lives? And how long can humanity last in colony spaceships?"

"Shh, you worry too much Ellie. Remember to have faith. The powers that be will see that humanity survives." Maria gets up and brings me the halved pill. A few minutes later sleep takes over my tired mind.

Sparkling blue waterfall, strange exotic birds flying across the open water and the children splashing in the water with big smiles on their faces. Eden, it must be. It's so peaceful and beautiful but it's not Eden on Earth. It's another Eden, but where?

"Ellie wake up!" Jostled out of a peaceful dream by Liz slapping my shoulder. "Wake up sis. Leon and Maria are waiting for us. Maria already took the kids to the kids rec corridor. We need to go to the colony meeting!"

Grumbling I sit up, "Okay Liz give me a minute. . . Do we have any coffee left in rations?"

"Yes, I already made one for you but you can't have it until we are walking down the corridor!" She says in her mother-like tone! I swear sometimes she's too much like mom was.

"Alright mom, I'm moving. I'm moving. . . s**t! Hey do you know where Ashlyn hid my slip-ons at this time?" Ashlyn loves hiding my slip-on shoes, that little pixie.

"Right here sis, caught her trying to slip them in Alaric's school bag this morning." Giggling a little. "She reminds me of those pixies you use to tell me about. I swear we should start calling her pixie!"

"Those pixie stories dad use to tell us. You were just too young to remember him telling us. I swear some of the stories he told us were classics but I could never find them at the book store. I wanted to get them as soon as I found out I was pregnant with Alaric!"

The door to our lounging whooshed open. "It's good to hear you both laughing again." Leon states as he pushes off the wall he was leaning on. Coming over to me to give me a hug and peck my forehead. "Heard you had a hard time sleeping again Ellie. It'll take time sis. For both of you." Leaning over giving Liz a peck on her forehead as well. "We need to get going. High Honor Rowe says this meeting is of urgent importance."

Great! How many more colonies have disappeared. I try to think positive as we walk to where our colony meeting will take place while drinking our rationed coffee black. Yuk! But there's nothing I can do about it. There's no creamer or sugar. There's only a few cows on bored but that milk is rationed out for the growing toddlers and infants.

The colonies weren't stocked for long term. Our meals are all REI's with some fresh produce. We do have a small agriculture facility on board where they are trying to grow produce as well as a few chickens for eggs we get once a week. Ever since Earth decimated we've been trying to find ways to get more food because it was not anticipate for us to be on board for longer than a year. I wonder if this has to do with today's meeting.