Zakari and Avalynn stopped in front of one of the recruitment tables at the city’s job fair. The large sign next to the table featured a group of men and women in military-style uniforms, and the bold words: Sign Up, See the Galaxy! Defend Your Planet!
Zakari turned to look at Avalynn, the excitement obvious in his eyes. Avalynn, however, wore a worried expression. “You can’t be serious,” she finally said to him.
“Why not?” Zakari asked. “We can sign up together. I heard they’re letting people take their whole families with them. It only takes seven months to get there.”
“No.”
“You wanted to go anyway. Just last week, you were talking about how we should see more of the world when we get back on our feet.”
“I wanted to go on a vacation! To one the resorts on Mars!” Avalynn exclaimed. “Not to join the space military!”
“What’s the difference? You’ll still see it, and we’ll be getting paid.”
The young couple moved on to another table but continued to argue about it. Zakari was reading the benefits from the brochure out loud. He sounded more convinced with every word that it was something he should try.
Things were getting pretty bad in the small cities and towns on Earth. Zakari and Avalynn had both been laid off from one of the last factories left in the area. They were required to attend the city job fairs to qualify for unemployment, but the fairs only advertised menial jobs with little pay. Many of their friends had moved on to larger cities, with the intentions of saving enough money to move to one of the new colonies on Mars or Saturn.
Avalynn knew they would have to make a move soon, but she had no intentions of joining the military. Who were they defending the planet from? And which planet were they talking about? Because it seemed like the government had all but given up on Earth.
“I’m sorry I have to put it this way, but if you join up, we’re done. I’m not going with you and I’m not having a long-distance relationship,” Avalynn said, interrupting Zakari’s reading.
“You’re being unreasonable.”
“Because I won’t go? Or because I won’t date you from a different planet?”
“Both! You haven’t given either option enough consideration.”
Avalynn took a deep breath, and grabbed Zakari’s hand. “Let’s put this on hold for a minute. We still have to get three more recruiter signatures on our packet. After that, we can go to the park. Enjoy the nice weather.”
“Alright. Deal,” Zakari said, before leaning over to kiss her.
Avalynn smiled as she looked at him for a moment longer. She knew it was only a matter of time before they went their separate ways. Zakari had always been an explorer at heart, too restless for small-town life, and the space military had just given him a way out.
Written By: S.M. Grady
© 2019 S.M. Grady
*Don’t forget to hit the LIKE button and leave a comment if you enjoyed it!
************************************************************************
