The space station hummed with a quiet intensity, the soft whirring of the machinery blending with the steady thrum of the life support systems. Jordan stood at the observation deck, her gaze fixed on the distant Earth below. From her view point, the planet appeared so fragile suspended in the silent embrace of the space surrounding it, its surface adorned with twinkling lights of civilization. But alas to Jordan, Earth was more than just a distant memory. It was a ghost that haunted her every waking moment. For nearly a century, the people inhabiting the space station are believed to be the last remnants of humanity, cut off from their home planet with no communication. As she watched the Earth rotate below, a sense of isolation settled over Jordan like someone was pushing down on her, suffocating her with their weight. Almost a hundred years had passed since the last transmission from Earth, leaving the survivors of the space station to fend for themselves in the emptiness of space. But it wasn’t just the silence of the void that was weighing on Jordan’s mind, it was the memory of her father’s execution. Remembering the image of him, kneeling before the council with fears in his eyes, was seared into her mind. She could still hear the echo of his voice, pleading for mercy, for the council to just listen to him as his verdict was delivered. Looking up from Earth rotating below, Jordan makes eye contact with her best friend Wyatt, his dad is the leader of the council, Mr.Stone, Wyatt is also the reason her father is dead. She remembers their last conversation like it’s been replaying in her mind since her fathers death.
She and Wyatt stood in the recreation room of the space station, the soft glow of artificial light casting long shadows on the walls.
“Jordan, you have to believe me,” Wyatt pleaded, his eyes wide with desperation. “I didn’t know they were going to execute your dad. I thought they would just arrest him, give him a chance to explain.”
Jordan’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. “How could you do this, Wyatt?” She whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. “He was my father, and you turned him in like he was some common criminal.”
Wyatt reached out to touch her arm, but Jordan recoiled, her eyes flashing with anger. “Don’t,” she snapped, pulling away from him. “I trusted you, Wyatt. I thought you were my friend, but now…”
Tears welled up in Jordan’s eyes as she struggled to find the words to express the betrayal she felt. Wyatts betrayal cut deeper than any blade, slicing through the fabric of their friendship with one blow.
“I’m sorry, Jordan,” Wyatt said, his voice raw with emotion. “I never meant for any of this to happen. Please, you have to believe me.”
But Jordan shook her head, her resolve hardening with each passing second. “I can’t,” she said, her voice trembling with rage. “I can’t believe anything you say anymore.”
With those words, Jordan turned and fled the room, leaving Wyatt alone in the darkness of the recreation room.
Blinking the memory away, she sees he’s still standing there not even a foot away from her now. His gaze was fixed on her with a mixture of guilt and sorrow. As she stood there, staring into Wyatt’s eyes, something shifted within her. The anger and resentment that had consumed her for so long began to give way to something else, maybe forgiveness. It was a small, fragile seed planted deep within her heart, but it was there. With a heavy sign, Jordan tore her gaze away from Wyatt’s and continued down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.