Back on my planet, when I’d gone to school, they’d taught us about the planet, how disgusting and wild Earth really was. The pollution level was off the charts, they’d said.

The people living on earth were mutants; all the toxic chemicals changed them. Of course, I was always asked by other people if I’d come from Earth.

On my planet, that was a bit of an insult.

Evem then, though, I had a feeling the rumors about Earth couldn’t be true, as much as I’d accepted and wanted to accept them at the moment. Why would they be taking people, children, who needed “treatmentâ€? to a place so horrible as the Earth they’d told us about?

“Thirty minutes. Report to your bedrooms immediately.â€?

I walked into my room, still quiet despite the nonstop sounds in the hallway, and sat on my bed.

A heavy rumble was sent through the entire ship, lasting for a minute or two.

“Ten minutes.â€?

Here it comes. I braced myself for it.

“Three minutes.â€?

Oh, God, I wasn’t ready for Earth!

“Thirty seconds!â€?