Green Light

Sammie was awaken by the excited sound of chatter entering her dreams and pulling her away from her subconsciousness. She could make out the voices of her parents arguing with her siblings about the appropriate attire to wear to this evening’s ceremonies. Sammie laid in bed for a few more minutes. She attempted to go back to sleep, but the rays of the sun were cutting through her closed eyes so much, all she could see was the red tint from the sun. After a moment, she finally got up and began to get dressed. Sammie lived in a household of five people: her mother, father, two younger siblings and herself. After getting dressed, she walked over to a calendar that was pinned to the wall. Each of the previous days had been crossed off and they were leading to today’s event, February the 24th.

Sammie couldn’t believe that it was this time of the year again. It was ten years ago today that the beam came down from the sky, taking “the chosen” with them or at least that’s what everyone called the few who were lucky enough to be able to walk into the light and get taken into the sky. No one really knows where the chosen went, or how the massive green light came to find its way to earth. Some people believed it to be a tool created by the government to control overpopulation. Others thought it was God taking his devoted followers to heaven and even a few thought the beam to be the work of aliens. All anyone did know was that once you walked into the light, you would not be able to return. But no one was afraid or feared the light. It was believed to be a great honor to be chosen to walk through it.

Sammie entered the kitchen and took a spot at the table.

“Well, hello there sleepy head.” Her mother greeted her with eggs, toast and bacon. “Thought we were going to have send someone up to wake you.”

Sammie grunted while taking a bite of bacon and helping herself to a glass of orange juice. Her mother informed her that she would have to watch her siblings for the first part of the day as her parents had to work before the ceremony started. Sammie rolled her eyes and wanted to protest but thought better of it. No one knew who would be chosen for the ceremony until the moment of and Sammie were to be called to enter the light, she didn’t want her last moments with her family to be filled with regret.

“Ok, that’s fine.” Sammie replied, “And we’ll meet you guys tonight.”

The family hugged and kissed each other goodbye as if it was their last time seeing one another before heading out for the day. Sammie and her siblings walked towards the center of town where was scheduled to meet James, one of her closest friends.

“Hey Sam!” James greeted the trio excitingly.

“Hey James.” Sammie responded back.

“You excited about tonight?” James asked.

“Of course,” answered Sammie. “How could anyone not be?”

Sammie looked at her siblings walking ahead of her. Despite her excitement to see who would be called into the light, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat nervous and fearful at the idea that if she were made one of the chosen, she wouldn’t see any of her family again. Of course, she wouldn’t express these concerns to everybody else, Sammie knew what kind of honor it was to be called into the light and she would be proud to represent her family in such a manner. Sammie looked around the town as they walked. It was buzzing with life. Children running with excited youth, people talking about tonight’s ceremonies, all the stores scheduled to close early.

As the day began to pass by, it became time for the town to assemble to attend the ceremony. The streets were filled with excited whispers from people who were curious to see who would be called. There were many who were hugging their loved ones with tears running down their faces, preparing to be separated from them forever. Sammie reunited with her family and waited. An anxious silence washed over the crowed like a blanket. Without warning, a giant horn filled the air. It was the sound of a trumpet being played from the sky.

Immediately after the horn sounded, a giant beam of green light shot down from the sky and landed in the middle of the town. There was no source from which the light came. It seemed. It seemed to come down from the heavens themselves, as if God himself had released a giant laser from where he stood. Some of the people in the crowd began to move away from their families and head towards the green light.

Sammie began to feel a weird feeling come over her. Another worldly voice entered her head telling her to enter the beam. She looked back at her family and immediately she could tell that they knew what was happening. A green light showed from behind Sammie’s eyes as she looked back to her parents and siblings one last time. Sammie began to walk towards the beam of green light that was shooting down from the sky. She wasn’t exactly sure how, but somehow, she felt like everything was going to be okay. The voice in her head reassured her of that. Sammie got so close to the light she could feel the warmth touch her face. With one last glance, she looked back at her family, tears of joy running down from her green eyes.

“Until we meet again.” Sammie mouthed to her family with a kiss goodbye, just before allowing the green light to take her away.