Tiara

The systems are down, and so are the comms. "Please Help" and this time I couldn't even hear myself. With a whole lot of resources to survive a year, Hope- a half-functioning robot, and a choice of either recalling what life was like before the disaster or making peace with the dusty fields of Mars.

People told my mother that I would be the hope and light of her life, and all she wanted to see was me shine bright like a star, and to the irony, I am on a star that dulls my soul with every passing minute. "Never bend below your dignity, Tiara, people are meant to bow down for you" Maybe that explains my name.

As she expected, everything came as I wanted, and I did had to work like a 'grade-smith' just to get into the college everyone dreams of. Now that I think of it, was it really because it was my dream or just to prove what I'm worth?

What brought me here is my drive and desire to be on top of the world, and now that I am, I don't know what it means anymore. I left with so many uncertainties in hopes of returning home. But now that my chances are little to none, this is going to be my home until I become one with this remote planet.

A voice constantly rings in my head, reminding me that this is not who I am and this is not what I should be. The laughter of my friends, the comfort of family, and the warmth of all these people, it is all a distant memory. A rough mechanical voice breaks the silence "Tiara, Vital Systems deteriorating. Oxygen levels are depleting. Estimated survival time: 48 hours".

The sharp truth pierced my hurting soul further, yet a sense of relief washed my face. The once-bustling station became a ghost town and left me stranded all by myself with Hope. The day when I named her Hope, I was clinging to optimism and tried to make things work, spent endless days trying to fix the damaged systems, and reach someone who could help. Days became weeks and weeks into months, and even before I knew it my life span got reduced to 48 hours.

If I were to survive this and tell the world my story, would I be telling them how I learned to try and fix a spaceship, or would it be about the warming memories I found of my crew that lay dead, or would it be how I found the journal of Jonah, a young scientist, who dreamed about colonizing this vast piece of dusty land, a stark contrast to the current reality.

Jonah's journal took me through his challenges, hardships, and achievements, which made me wonder if I could find such immense strength and optimism in this darkness.

Just when I was about to surrender myself to the darkness, I heard a faint static from the communication systems. My heart pounded with excitement, and a flicker of hope ignited within. I reached the system immediately, adjusting the frequencies, and working up the system until it gave me a crack through... A voice..."Hello, Is anyone there?"

It took me a minute to differentiate this oasis from a mirage. A lifeline... Tears of joy flood my eyes, I look over the horizon assuring myself that this won't be the end of me, and I am not alone in this game for survival. But, what do you think? Would I be sitting with Hope and recording this entry, if everything went well?... 48 hours is all it takes to turn things upside down.

- Tiara.