“You’re serious.”
“Of course I am.”
He wouldn’t take the pamphlet from her hands. She folded it to her chest.
“It’s one-way,” he said. “Why would you go?”
Her footprints in iron oxide dust; her name writ in discovery’s legacy; new stars, herself among them.
“Because,” she whispered. “It’s Mars.”
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Awww, this one was both poignant and cute to read! Plus, talk about getting as far away from the person as possible 😉
Haha, yes, I hope it came through that they were actually pretty happy together, but she couldn’t pass up this opportunity. 🙂
How sad for him! But I love the clear sense of her commitment to her dream of space exploration. Hard to say no to that.
I read an essay somewhere about the kinds of people who have signed up for the potential first manned mission to Mars, and some of them are people with families who are willing to give all that up to see Mars and be part of that history. I think this character was hoping he’d want to come with her and couldn’t quite grasp that he wouldn’t want to be part of it.
I had first thought of writing on the same topic but then changed my mind. I love the way you’ve captured her dream of being on Mars! One can imagine the dreamy, starry look in her eyes as she said those lines 🙂
Thank you! Space exploration is a great way to leave 🙂
This one made me smile! It doesn’t seem entirely sad. It doesn’t read full of heartbreak. It’s sweet. It’s loving. The main character is following a passion, and the other person seems to know that, although he doesn’t want her to leave. “It’s one-way,” though, did hit me hard at first. It’s like he telling her, “Do you realize you’re not coming back? Don’t go!” Okay, there’s a bit of heartbreak there. It’s just so well written!
Thank you for your close reading! I think there’s heartbreak on both sides – she was so excited and couldn’t quite grasp that he wouldn’t want to go on the adventure, too.
Her fascination with this decision is clear. I can imagine her last line said in a breathy, magically captivated kind of way where she’s basically already good as gone.
Exactly! Thank you for reading 🙂
That’s one hell of a grandiose way to leave. I mean honestly, how could he even respond? “You’re right, it’s Mars. Good luck out there.”
I mean, who doesn’t want to see space? Other than this guy, I guess.
Amazing. Because it’s Mars. Or Australia. Or Japan. But Mars? Very clever 🙂
From what I hear about parts of Australia, it might as well be Mars 😉 Thanks for reading!
One way ticket to Mars- nothing will come in her way of commitment and adventure .
I really like this, the crisp dialog, the setting, a complete story with such an unexpected ending!
Oh, I love the last line. It’s a clear beginning middle and end. Its has such a hopeful…dare I say…starry-eyed tone? The pamphlet was such great imagery and a way to show each characters reaction.
Laura! Yes, of course it’s Mars. I could hear your protagonist say this in my head. It’s perhaps the most important reason to leave, right?
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