He had written a speech for this day. He told the world that today is the day we become what we always were and that was explorers of the unknown. He said we will explore but not conquer like those before us. He said to them that this is something that we would do because we can and one day we will have another home and more adventures to tell our kids.

I thought it was beautiful until he calls out our captain's name and mine. I stood there I shock for a moment before I move. Our captain said a few words before called me out as his second in command. To say I was piss was something of an understatement. I walked up to the mic and close my eyes. I thought about every moment up to this point and open my eyes and spoke.

"I never thought we would be traveling to another planet. As a child, I always thought that would be cool to travel among stars and explore the great unknown and now I have that opportunity. At first, I didn't want to be here, I wanted to explore this planet that held everything I knew and will come to know but at the same time, I knew I had to do this not only for myself but for those who will never know this. I would also like to point out that I didn't know I was the second in command and I know some people out there are mad that a female is doing this but it shouldn't matter because right now all I see are humans and earthlings just trying to explore. I don't really know what else to say but thank you."

I back away from the mic and handing the floor back to Maxwell. He answers some questions while the captain and I stay quiet until the floor was open to us. The captain was answering your basic run around questions while I was asked the more sexist borderline dumb questions. That until one person ask me about the engine control systems and I answer the question in full detail. After that, I was asked the same questions that the captain was asked. After twenty minutes, we went outside to introduce the rest of our crew. After today half of our crew will be asleep in their pods while the rest of us get ready for launch.

I left everyone. I step away from the crowd and wanted to be on my own until I felt arms wrap around me and gave me a bone-crushing hug. I turn around and saw my older brother Harry with a smile on his face and he is army dress blues. I smile and pulled him back into a hug. That's when I saw my family and some friends. I went over to them and hug them and told them good-byes and that I love them all very much. My mother was crying and my dad had a pound look on his face. I got with them and took some photo so they can keep them and I did the same with my friends. I spent the whole day and part of the night with them until it was time for them to go. Apart of me was sad that I might never see them again but another part of me was happy because I know I'll never forget them or their love for me. I left them and went to my room to rest. Tomorrow was going to be another day of saying goodbye and checking the status of our mission.

I lay down and relax. In a few days, I wouldn't be on earth anymore and I was ready for it.

I spend the second family in uniform again talking to different reporters and new agencies about our mission to Mars. Some of the other crew members were spending the rest of there time with there family before we left this planet in the next twenty-four hours. I couldn't believe that this mission was really happening. Another day of family and another day of checking out the vehicle that will soon take us to our new home. In all honesty I was ready for this day to be down and over with. I couldn't stand another in my dress blues. But then again, my family was no longer here, and I had a lot of work to do before we leave. But I couldn't have a moment to myself when I saw my boss walk towards me. "hey June, can I take a moment of you time," he asks me. I nodded my head and he began to walk with me. "I was wonder if we can do a social media kind of thing to help people better understand this project.

I look at me and agree with him. He then shaves a tablet into my hands and told me to write and post pictures on Facebook. I groan in complain but do it anyway. I first started posting pictures of myself and the crew with their families or off doing something else. Then I started answering questions and posting about space travel. It was painful, but I did it anyway. Then I open a twitter account and started posting there with the hashtag untiyday. Within minutes it was tending. Pictures were going around, and people were loving it. I share some videos and more picture throughout the day. Abd at the end of it there was a press conference. I was once again present with my boss and captain answering more questions and talking about the things we wanted to accomplish by doing this. People wanted to know why we would do this when the chance of succus is slim. I spoke up and answer it. "We are doing this because it is in our nature to explore and travel. We want to travel and reach for something that seemed impossible until now. And now we could be the first, but we most certainly won't be the last. I spoke with confidence.

Then more questions and answer some of them a more personal than others but it was worth it when it was finally done and over with. After a long day of talking and posting I call it quits and went to my room. I got undress and took one long hot shower. After that, I change back into my standard uniform and went bed. Our standard uniform double as sleepwear.

In the land of sleep, I dreamt of anything and everything. I dreamt of my family and never seeing them again. I dreamt of high school where I had some of the best memories. I dreamt of dying in space and being at peace with it. I dreamt of all the Netflix shows I will not be able to watch. I dreamt of surviving in a zombie hellhole. I dreamt of everything and anything. Sleep was where anything could happen, and nothing can explain it. But then something weird happened in my sleep. I saw something pale reaching towards me and it was warm and soft like silk. Then my alarm yelled at me to wake up as I was pull from sleep and a weird dream. I sat up and looked outside. In less than twenty-four hours we would be on our way to a new planet that we had studied over time. I changed into a fresh set of clothes and went on about my day. Captain Miles called me over our comlink to let me know everything was done in terms of checking the ship that would carry the other 600 members of this crew. While most of them would be asleep a skeleton crew would be awoke making sure everything would be running smoothly. The would the captain and myself with my subdivision leaders and Matthews sisters.

After double checking everything, I decided I was going to post more online. It was something to keep me busy before we left the following morning. I wanted to leave the building and head down to the beach. This was going to be the last time I was ever going to feel the sand beneath my feet or smell the salt water. And that exactly what I did. I took off to the beach and walked around barefooted. My boots in my hand and sleeves round up and jacket hanging over to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and t-shirt. I walked in the water and the coolness of it rush me. I saw the seagulls flying and I saw people enjoying their day. I will enjoy this day. I held the seven-inch iPad mini and took a selfie with the caption "fun in the sun and beach one last time" with different hashtags.

I took more pictures of the beach and myself before putting the iPad away. I enjoy myself on the sun until my comlink buzzed to life. "Hey June, I know you're out, but I need your help," said Ave. "Alright, I'll be there in ten minutes," I told her and took off to our main building where most of the crew was in. When I arrive, I find Paul and Mathew fighting. Not fist fighting but yelling at each other. I sigh and close my eyes before I lost my mind and started yelling as well. I walked up to the two fighting men and place myself between them and push them away from each other. Matthew shut his mouth and looked at me while Paul kept running his mouth. I got mad and told him to shut it. He looks as if I told him to fuck himself. "Alright what's going on?" I ask them. No one spoke up. "If no one tells me what the fuck is going on I'll make everyone, and I mean all of us to run laps until you can't fucking run anymore then do night drills do I make myself clear," I said. I was not going to have any kind of in-fighting. I was sick and tired of Paul fighting me every step of the way and now he is messing with a division leader.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Now I'm going to ask one more time what the fuck is going on?" I said. This time Matthew spoke up. "It was his fault he said something he shouldn't have said, and I lost it," he said. "What did he say?" I ask him. He looks at me and keeps his mouth shut. I glare at him until he takes a breath and speaks. "He said that no women let alone a slut lesbian will even be in charge of me and ill make sure to replace her and he said some more things, but I don't feel right repeating them ever again," he said. I can feel the anger inside raise. I have dealt with people like Paul like all my life. When you're a woman and of color then add in being gay well it gets hard, but you stand up and fight for yourself and those around you. And that what I did, and I still have to fight now. Even if I am second in command some people will never see that or see me fit to be in charge because they think a man should do the work. Well fuck that and fuck them I turn towards Paul calmly.

"So, I'm a slutty lesbian, huh, I see I mean I only ever been with one person my whole life and cancer took her from me but that still makes me a slut ok. Mad yes, I am a homosexual woman but guess what Stevenson this slutty lesbian has outperformed you in every way. And I can prove it too. So, let me bring it up shall we." So, I bring up our scores from the first test we ever took to the last one we took. "Oh, look at this, your first test score was rank five hundred and look at me rank one, oh look here is our first fitness test and look at that I am rank number two and what are you hmm let me see oh its rank six hundred, dead last. Look I can keep this going but I outrank you in every way. I am in the top five always while you're barely making it. So, this is what is going to happen. I'm going to write you up and I will have your rank from security leader to no one do I make myself clear," I said to him. Looking at him straight in the eyes daring him to say anything else and have him replace altogether. But he didn't say a word. He kept his mouth shut. "Good boy now leave," I said and walked away from him.

I close my eyes and slow my breathing. I was mad to all hell, but I couldn't let my temper get the best of me. I needed to calm down, so I walk away from everyone and went back to the dorms. As soon as I close my door I punch the wall until my knuckles bleed. I could feel my breathing change, I couldn't stay calm anymore I needed to release my anger. I've never lost control of my anger that fast before even when people bullied me before. However, it was stressful. In 36 hours we would be leaving this planet our home for another, but I still shouldn't have lost it. but it felt good to finally put that ass in his place. I walked from my group and went back out to the beach. this was the last time I was going to feel the sand beneath my feet and see the sunset from this planet. I relax with the sounds of the waves crashing into the sand and felt the sun on my face. People came up to me and ask for pictures and ask questions and I answer freely. Soon I would no longer be an Earthling but a Martian. I stay out past the sunset to watch the moon come and the stars poking holes in the blackness of the sky. I felt calm and at peace. I sent one last message out to the world saying this is our last night and called my family one more time. Tonight, was the ending of my life on earth and tomorrow was that started off my new one in space and on a different world.