Word Count: 2014

Ashley Price
O2

I took a deep inhale as I opened the back door of my home unit and ran to the food
storage unit; I wouldnt be able to breathe until I got back. I had only one minute of oxygen to
last me the trip, that was all we were allowed nowadays. I entered the food unit and grabbed my
10lbs of dehydrated grub for the week. Grub is the only food we have left. Its an oatmeal-like,
tasteless substance thats made in a lab. I arrived at my home unit with only three seconds of air
to spare. I collapsed into a chair at my kitchen table. My breathing was heavy and fast. Once I
regained my breath, I set my grub and Positivity Shots on the table. As I stared at my grub, I
longed for my life before the Big Bang: father and grandmother sitting at the dining room table,
their laughter and chatter filling the room with delight. Mother and me in the kitchen, cooking up
a meal that spreads a savory scent throughout the house. Julia proudly bringing in the freshly
picked daisies from our front yard and placing them in the center of our elegant wooden dining
table. The memory jolts from my mind as my Emotion Meter slips off the table and falls to the
floor with a loud crash. I pick it up and strap it to my arm and, not surprisingly, it reads
Depressed. I stab my thigh with the Positivity Shot labelled Monday.
I was sitting in a field of green. The air was crisp and cool but the day was warm because
of the suns soft rays. The birds were having conversations around me. James! Its your turn to
chase me! my sister yells. I turn around to see my younger sister peeking her head out from
behind a strong, tall oak tree. As I run towards her, she runs away from me: her long blonde hair
blows in the wind as she laughs. Her laughter is infectious. Im going to get you! I laugh as I
yell. I run faster, getting closer and closer to touching her back -

Ding! Time for work! Ding! My clock sounds. Im back at my kitchen table. Im back in
reality. My Emotion Meter now reads Stable. I change into my oxygen suit and await my
transport to The Nursery. I was randomly selected to guard The Final Flower tonight.
The Nursery is a small dome made of indestructible glass. It sits in the middle of the
enormous, burned crater made by the Big Bang. No one quite knows how or why the Big Bang
happened, but it released a chemical into the air that extinguished all of Earths plant life. The
scientists confirmed wed only have enough oxygen to last us 365 days after the Big Bang. That
was 358 days ago.
I take my position on the North side of The Nursery. Three others guard the South, East,
and West sides. Two scientists walk out of the dome, speaking quickly and quietly to each other.
The Final Flower only has five seeds. Weve already destroyed three of them, the
scientist on the right said. It was impossible to recognize who anyone was, since we all were
wearing identical oxygen suits.
That means we only have two chances and seven days left... the second scientist trailed
off. My chest became heavy and I let out a long, sad sigh. The scientists were trying to breed The
Final Flowers seeds to make new plants and get our oxygen back. But clearly, they werent close
and it was apparent that they are nearly out of time. I began coughing to cover up my sigh. No
one but the scientists and government officials knew about the work that was being done with
The Final Flower. As a government official, I couldnt let my co-guards for the day know that I
knew; it would be illegal to answer their questions. All of the guards stood silently and still while
the scientists cleared out for the day. Once all of the scientists were gone, one of the guards
turned towards The Nursery and rested their arms on its roof.

Im Derrick. Im thirty-six. Former construction worker. The other two guards and I
turned around, I figure if were going to be here all night together we might as well get to know
each other a bit. I mean, this job is always so boring. Derricks voice was deep and gruff. I dont
think I knew him, but without seeing his face I would never know.
I suppose hes right, the guard on the East side responded. Im Grace. I was a fifth
grade teacher at Parker Elementary School. Graces voice was sweet. It had a calming effect on
me that made me feel safe; despite the fact I was standing in the middle of where the Moonlight
Forest used to be, guarding The Final Flower from thieves. But Graces voice, like everyone
elses, had the sad undertone weve all had since the Big Bang: a melancholy sound, hidden
beneath the sweetness. I had met Grace before, but I shoved that memory to the back of my mind
to keep from tearing up.
Im Alex. I was a writer for The Daily Dish, the guard on the West end piped up. I
knew Alex. We were classmates back in high school. I saw him every once in awhile when he
wanted a government workers opinion on whatever topic he was writing about in the paper. It
was my turn to introduce myself, even though I couldnt see my co-guards eyes, I could feel
them staring at me.
Im James. I work for the government. My voice was low and loud. Grace let out a
quiet, high pitched squeal as her whole body flinched out of shock and surprise.
The government, huh? Derrick growled, Ill bet you know what theyre trying to do
with The Final Flower. Dont ya, captain?
I was in the swimming pool we had at my old home. The water was a light turquoise,
glimmering from the hot sun. The bright multicolored flowers, like polkadots in the bushes that
surrounded us. My sister was sitting on a purple inflatable raft, which she called the boat.

Man the star deck, matey! I can see the Galapagos Pirates approaching! She put her
hands to her eyes to mimic binoculars.
Aye-aye captain! I responded as I grabbed on to the bottom of the raft, oh no! The
Galapagos Pirates have attacked our ship! I yelled as I shook the raft. My sister fell off as she
laughed. She laughed the deep, stomach laugh of pure joy.
Again! Again! Again! She chanted as she climbed back onto the raft.
Uh, James? Hello? Graces sweet voice made my whole body shake as I shifted back
into reality. Back into my oxygen suit. Back guarding the flower. Back in the middle of the night.
Back with Derrick, Grace, and Alex.
Ya, sorry, um hi, I mumbled, shaken.
So, you do know what theyre doing with The Final Flower. Derrick questioned in
his low, gruff voice that made his tone harsh.
I neither agree nor disagree with that statement, I responded back in a tone that
matched his harshness. I wasnt allowed to answer any questions; they knew that. Everyone was
silent after that.
The sun began rising and the scientists on the early shift began arriving. My transport
arrived and brought me back to my home unit. I peeled off the oxygen suit, took a shower,
shoveled down some grub and fell into a deep sleep.
I was walking down the hallway at Parker Elementary School. A small, soft hand was
clasped in mine and the little girl attached to it was skipping ahead of me: pulling me into a fast
walk behind her. Her long blonde hair was curled at the bottom and the light blue ribbon in it
made her look like Alice from Alice in Wonderland.
Come on Jamie! She yelled as she pulled me harder, Im going to be la-

Here it is, I cut her off mid-sentence. I told you Id find it.
She giggled, Okay, okay. You win. She guided me into the classroom. The walls were
filled with color and there were children spread across the room: on the floor, sitting at tables, in
bean-bag chairs. She pulled my arm, as a sign for me to lean down. She kissed my cheek, then let
go of my hand and ran to sit on the rug with three other little girls who were playing with
wooden blocks.
You must be the famous brother Julia always talks about! Im Grace Melrose. Im
Julias teacher this year. Grace was small and thin, with a sweet and quiet voice. She wore a
lilac cardigan over a black and white polka-dotted dress and had a beautiful smile that lit up her
face.
Yeah, Jules and I are pretty close, I smiled and looked down. My watch began beeping,
Ive got to get to work. I stammered. It was nice meeting you.
You as well. Grace replied. I walked out of the classroom and down the hall.
Jamie, somethings wrong! Come back Jamie! Dont go! Julias once sweet and
lighthearted voice was now shrill and heavy; I could feel every hair on my body stand up. I
turned around to see Julia standing right outside of her classroom in the hallway.
Come back! Jamie! Jamie! She was crying and clearly unable to move her feet. An
overwhelming sense of fear ran down my spine and I was unable to move. I fought to move my
feet and save her as I watched her sink to her knees, sobbing louder and louder.
I awoke shaking and covered in sweat. My eyes were full of tears and my face felt as if it
were burning. I lay in bed for a few moments to steady myself. Ding! Time for work! Ding! My
alarm clock sounded. I had slept for three days. But that was my life now. Up for a few days and

then asleep for a few days. It was my night to guard The Final Flower again. I pulled on my
oxygen suit and got into my transport.
I arrived at The Nursery to find that there was, in fact, no nursery left. There was no trace
that humans had ever been there. The dome was gone. I walked up to the dying flower that lie in
the middle of the crater. The Final Flower. I crouched down and placed my hand around the face
of the flower. Its center was bare - stripped of its seeds. It had lost most of its once strikingly
purple petals. I began to hear a faint beeping noise. I looked down at my watch to see that it read:
Day 365 of 365. My whole body shivered as I sat in the crater. We failed. My oxygen suit
began beeping, letting me know I had ten seconds to find more oxygen. But I wouldnt be able
to. We failed. A hot tear forms in my left eye and slowly begins to fall down my cheek. The
beeping gets slower and a figure appears about ten feet in front of me.
As I stare at the figure, it becomes clear that it has the human shape of a young girl. The
figure has a bright yellow glow around her, silhouetting her. As she walks towards me, I can
faintly make out her long blonde hair. Her socks with the umbrellas on them that she wore when
she wanted the clouds to rain. Her ribbon that makes her look like Alice from Alice in
Wonderland.
Julia? I whisper, faintly. My face is hot with tears. The figure now stands right in front
of me and extends her hand. I grab her hand and stand up. As we walk, hand in hand, I am
comforted by the sweetness of her words:
Ive missed you Jamie.