tales of Suchita

Simulin was looking out a window, hands crossed tightly across her chest. She was wearing a non-descript blue uniform and her hair, which was usually tied in a bun, was open.

The scene beyond the window was dismal. The air was filled with dust particles. The vibrant blue vegetation was turning dull and grey. Though she was breathing circulated air, she knew that the outside would smell of smoke, ash and ruin.

For the past five years, a mysterious plague had been attacking Simulin’s planet’s crops and none of the solutions her mother, Ruling Council to her people, had executed had worked for longer than a few weeks.

A few of the auguries had said that they couldn’t fight this disease because it had come from the land. And when the land was against you, there was precious little you could do.

Desperate to find a way to protect her people, Ruling Council had asked for petitions that looked for solutions beyond the stars.

Simulin had been excited at the prospect when Anduin, her older brother, had told her about it.

When a petition had landed on the Ruling Council’s table, charting a map to re-home citizens on another planet, mama had been skeptical and unhappy. Mama had been expecting something that would bring home a solution not send people into the vastness of space.

But Simulin had fought tenaciously for the idea. She had never entered a library, content to let Anduin do it for her but this time, she had spent weeks with him and the other petitioners, collecting proof that re-homing was a viable option.

Simulin, however, had never expected to be chosen to lead the mission. She didn’t have any skills. Anduin had all the brains. She was just a soldier. But mama had said she would make sure the people she was in-charge of would survive. And that was the most important skill.

The decision had been made not half an hour ago. She was to lead a group of people – engineers, scientists, healers, citizens and half a dozen children – to another galaxy, looking for a planet her people could settle.

Simulin had felt so brave, so important to have been chosen. She loved feeling useful and she knew she would do everything to ensure this mission succeeded.

But twenty-four hours away from lift off, she was…having doubts. Not about the mission. The meaning of it though…it had suddenly sunk in that she was really leaving and would never return. She would never see mama again. Or hug Anduin. Or ask him questions like he was her personal query agent.

How could she leave them behind?

“Knock, knock,” said a voice and she had to hold herself for a moment so she wouldn’t jump into Anduin’s arms and beg him to talk to mama to let her stay.

“Simu, are you well?”

She shrugged but took a staggering breath when she felt Anduin’s shoulder press against hers.

His voice softened. “It’s okay. You were always going to outlive mama and me.”

She let out a whimper, not caring that tears were streaming down her cheeks.

“What if I don’t want to?”

Anduin said calmly, “You know this is important.”

“And what, staying with you is not?”

Anduin looked unimpressed by her anger. He had never thought of going, not once. He knew mama couldn’t go, being Ruling Council and all, but he also knew if one of them had to, it would be Simulin. She was the adventurous one among the three of them. Besides, he knew nothing about leading people. Getting them to work together. Or giving them hope when all else failed.

She would be glorious, he knew. Even though he didn’t have prescience, he knew she would be successful. They may perish here, on their planet, but she and the mission would not. They would survive.

He had told her all of this. So, he tried something else.

“You’re the only one who’ll remember me Simu. So yes, going is important. More important than letting your memories of home be buried by some plague.”

She couldn’t stop herself. She jumped into his embrace, clutching onto his shoulders. “I won’t ever see you again Anduin. How am I to say goodbye to you?”

Anduin wouldn’t shed tears, not yet. Maybe once he had bid her adieu and her ship was but a dot in the pale grey sky. Until then, he would be the big brother.

“You don’t say goodbye. Because you and I are made of star stuff and even if it takes me eons to reach you across the expanse of spacetime, I will.”

Simulin slapped his shoulder but didn’t let go. His claim was absurd; she didn’t need to be a subject matter expert to know that. The sentiment though.

“I’ll be waiting,” she said, “for you to join me.”

He wanted to tell her not to ask for the impossible but he saw the fierce determination in her eyes and swallowed his words.

“Let’s go,” he said, pulling her to the door. “Mama is waiting to impart some last-minute wisdom.”

She rolled her eyes but went with him, not letting go of his hand. She wouldn’t let go until she had buckled up in her spaceship and seen his face for one last time. Then it would be up to the stars…if they should meet again.

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This is written as part of #BlogchatterHalfMarathon