Initium novum

Following an energy crisis, the devastating outcomes of an unjustified world war, the end of the earth planet as it is known, the world has become a desert wasteland and civilization has collapsed: only a few aquifers remain, most of species have become extinct, no green zones are left, hunger is present on a regular basis and starvation has become the greatest cancer of all eras. Death is the best thing that could happen to anyone. Yet, every cloud has a silver lining and hope is the last thing mankind should lose.

- “Wake up, Lazarus. Sun is rising again and you know what it means. We have to keep moving forward and keep the pace if we want to plant these seeds on time. It is the only option we have if we truly desire to survive and repopulate Earth. We ran out of provisions two days ago and the closest aquifer is miles away. Plus, the camels are thirsty. They have not drunk a single drop of water in a week.” Said Abigail, a courageous and charismatic 30-year-old brunette, who used to work as an environmentalist before the apocalypse took place and whose parents owned a farm when she was a little girl.

- “On my way, Abigail. Just let me get my stuff ready. I am going to give the camels these milliliters of water I managed to collect from the mist. They are more resistant than us and I am pretty sure they will take us straight to “Heaven”. Replied Lazarus, a well-built 40-year-old Hebrew geneticist and biologist and ex-service man.

They met just right after the end of times began. Two years have passed from that. Both were at the edge, at their breaking points, until one night Lazarus had a revealing dream: they had to walk all their way through Earth to arrive in the Colombian Amazon Rainforest where they will find “Heaven”: the last oasis in the planet, and therefore their last chance to survive. Both as an environmentalist and as a biologist, Abigail and Lazarus knew that they just could not allow themselves to ignore that sign.

- “Do you think we are going to be able to make it, Abigail?” Asked Lazarus.

- “You tell me, Lazarus. You are the believer of the two.” Replied Abigail.

- “Hmmm. I have been meaning to asking you… Did you ever listen to Lana del Rey, Abigail?”

- “Sure, why would you ask that? Is that going to save our lives somehow?”

- “Not at all, Abigail. Not at all. Yet, she said ‘…heaven is a place on Earth with you’ and it just makes me wonder…”

- “I truly do not know what to say, Lazarus… I just hope all of this is worth it. Like I said before, we have to make it on time or the seed will not grow and we will starve to death…”

- “Do you not worry, Abigail. I know we will make it on time.”

It was the seventh day after their last conversation -they did not communicate a lot so as to save up energies – when they saw a shiny green spot in the distance.

- “Lazarus, is that what I think it is?” Asked Abigail in surprise.

- “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” Replied Lazarus.

They headed up to the place and they found Heaven, the last oasis on Earth! Mankind’s last hope! They drank water and found some lake shrimps which they ate. Also, they fed and watered the camels, put up their tents, made love and rested.

The next morning, Abigail planted the seeds and watered them just like she did when she was a little girl at her parents’ farm. As for Lazarus, he started working on some experiments so as to bring all species back to life for he had the knowledge and all the necessary equipment with him. A year passed; Abigail gave birth to a beautiful sound baby girl who they called Hope, the plants grew, bloomed and produced fruit. Species were brought back to life; a new era has become.

- “Lana was right, Lazarus.” Said Abigail. “Heaven is a place on Earth with you.” She added.

- “Initium novum, my dear Abigail, initium novum.”

Ómar David Parra Peña