5 The Golden Ticket

Three Months after the Earthquake.

"I, Commander General Thomas Sima, swear to defend, protect, and serve the citizens of Country Q. I will uphold the teachings and laws as their new President. I will not disappoint you."

The Commander General being sworn in as the new President of Country Q was no surprise to anyone. Considering that the majority of the government officials, including the former President, died the night of the earthquake along with 40,000 citizens.

"As you all know, we as well as Country M and L are in a crisis right now. We no longer have nine years to perfect space travel. The toxic fumes have already passed through the countryside, killing our people and contaminating our food and water supplies. We have already lost 40,000 to the earthquake and losing more every day we stay.....That is why I am asking those who have tickets to prepare to leave in two days...."

Thunderous applause took over the city center.

"...due to the earthquake and the toxic fumes, we had lost many, which have opened up seats for others..." This is what Lila stood here for so long to hear.

"...but this doesn't mean we will drop the requirements need to board the ships."

"Why!?" Lila yelled out with a few others in the crowd.

"Although, the people who had a place on those ships have died, opening up seating; unfortunately, one of our ships was heavily damaged. Resulting in only nineteen left."

Lila's heart shattered into pieces.

"This means that we will have to re-select base on the initial requirements..."

Lila didn't even bother to stick around in the city's square. Walking back to the orphanage, she left whatever hope she had at the beginning of his speech in the city's square.

"Lila, how did it go? Ms. Joy saw her come back with a distracted face.

"In two days the ships will be leaving. There are nineteen ships left and they will be starting the whole selection process over..." Lila stated the facts with no emotion in her voice.

"Why do you sound so sad? Even though many people have lost their lives...this is still an opportunity for you to get a ticket. You should get ready, I'll help you pack some of your personal items." Ms. Joy trailed off into Lila's old room. When she didn't see Lila following her she retraced her steps, finding Lila right where she left her.

"Lila, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy?" Ms. Joy asked as she saw tears flowing down Lila's face. Her shoulders shook, and her chest heaved with sobs.

Running over Ms. Joy threw her arms around Lila's body, gathering her into a tight hug.

"You...don't...get it. I...wont be...selected...." Lila said through her cries.

"Lila, calm down first I can hardly understand you. What do you mean you won't be selected?"

Draggin Lila over to sit down under a tree, Ms. Joy patted Lila's back to calm her down.

"First, they will take the children because the children can adapt to a new environment faster than adults can. Then women to ensure the production of the human race, then men will come last. Within those parameters, they will start to eliminate the sick, disable and the old automatically because they don't want to waste time and medicine. With these requirements still in place, I'll never get on one of those ships. Out of the 40,000 that died only 16,000 had seats." Lila broke down the requirements quickly and clearly for Ms. Joy to see.

Ms. Joy never thought that after all the deaths, they still needed the requirements for the selection process.

"Lila, don't worry we will think of something. There is are still two days left."

"Ms. Joy..." Lila knew she meant well, but she couldn't take this anymore.

____

"This way...keep it moving!.... Yes, line up over here..." Soldiers directed the citizens to the first ten ships on day one.

"Everyone! Please have your ID and your one bag of personal belongings in your hand. Nothing else will be allowed on the ships! Once you enter the ship you are assigned to, you are to follow your section leader to your assigned rooms and sleeper cells..."

The landing zone was full of activity with the coming and going of military personnel. Cargo boxes and cages full of animals and plants were being loaded onto the ships. By nightfall, the first ten ships will leave.

"All persons who board these ships must follow the rules and regulations set forth by the Commander General. Any persons violating these rules will be subjection to ejection!..." Soldiers placed at the entrance to the ships, repeated this saying over and over again to every citizen who boarded.

"Daddy, what does 'ejection' mean?" Mr. Shen's daughter asked as she listened to the soldiers' mantra.

"It means you will be shot out into space." A passing soldier casually responded to the question.

Hearing the dreadful answer to her question, she hid in her father's arms.

____

That same day, a group of soldiers came to pick up the last of the children from the orphanage. A lot of crying and wailing could be heard as they parted ways with Ms. Joy and the other staff.

Lila watched Ms. Joy speak with a Major as she pointed in her direction. Once again hope bloomed inside her, but in the end they all left her behind.

On the second day, Ms. Joy walked the halls of the orphanage looking at all the empty rooms of the children she lovingly raised after the war.

Being an orphan herself, Ms. Joy knew her purpose in life was to be a caretaker and she never regretted it, even after the war.

Walking into the last bedroom, Ms. Joy saw a lone petite figure sitting on the bed. She remembered looking at this same back for so many years as Lila watched all the other children her age, playing and leaving for school while she had to stay behind.

"Lila.."

"Ms. Joy? What are you still doing here? Today the last day, you should leave now. I'll take care of the orphanage." Lila stood up, but couldn't bring herself to look Ms. Joy in the eyes.

"Lila.."

"Please, Ms. Joy just go. Don't say anything more, please."

"Lila.."

"I can't be happy, I've never got to live my life! Stuck in this bed the majority of my life, unable to make friends. I had no family and no boyfriend. Never even had sex. F***! I've never even been kissed! Like a tongue on tongue action, I want one of those kisses, where they say your mind goes light-headed and your breathing gets heavy. Hands are groping...."

"Lila!" Lila's watery eyes finally meet Ms. Joy's.

"Lila, I understand your anger and sadness...that is why I'm giving you this..." A ticket was held out in Ms. Joy's hands, an original paper ticket.

"Why!? How?...Where did you get this ticket from?" Lila shaken hands grasped the ticket held out to her, pulling it to her chest.

"It was mine, now it's yours."

Lila's emotions got caught in her throat, she didn't know what to say.

"When I started this orphanage, my husband was a soldier of this country, he was stationed at the border to help the citizens there. Unfortunately, one day he got hit by an explosion, and now he can't leave his wheelchair. I'm not going to leave him behind, he is my one and only love. Even when death does us apart, I'll still follow him." Ms. Joy laughed.

Lila never knew this about Ms. Joy, she always thought she was a widow or a spinster.

Hurry!...Take this ticket and start anew. Don't let it go to waste."

At the bedroom's door, Ms. Joy turned around "I might be old fashion, but you might want to save yourself for that last part on the list of things you wanted to do. Don't pick any random person to share that kind of kiss with, okay?" Ms. Joy beamed when she saw Lila's face flush a deep red.

Running to Ms. Joy's side, Lila hugged and kissed the woman who raised her for the last time.