Every morning I wake up and feel smaller. The ceaseless black of space outside my window doesn’t help.

 

My door creaks open. Dad thinks I’m sleeping, which is better than him knowing the truth. He doesn’t approve of my friendship with Lenny.

 

Eliza? Lenny sends. His voice is like a whisper in my mind.

 

Lenny! What took you so long? I reply.

 

We must speak in person. The elders are close to a decision.

 

“Eliza, sweetie. I made coffee. You up?” Dad interrupts.

 

I pretend to stretch awake. I’ll be on the mission today. Let’s meet at our spot. Ten o’clock.

 

Our spot. Ten, Lenny replies, fading from my mind.

 

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” Dad says.

 

I snicker and throw my legs out from the covers. “Your insomnia doesn’t make you better than the rest of us, Pops.”

 

“It certainly doesn’t explain my good looks either.”

 

“Wow. Just… wow. I’ll be ready in five.”

 

He smiles. “I’m glad you’re joining us. It’s nice to see you come to life down there.”

 

“It’s nice to be a part of something. Keeps away the bad thoughts,” I respond.

 

“Good. You belong on this team. It fits you,” he says, closing the door. “But only if you hurry up!”

 

Dad is the leader of a research team of scientists and soldiers. I’m neither, but thankfully sample collection doesn’t require special ground clearance.

 

Our dwelling is miraculous: a floating band that stretches the circumference of the Earth thousands of miles high. And though it is a miracle, it only exists because we destroyed the planet. We turned our backs on our home, and it returned the favor.

 

We now face out into space while a mock Sun revolves inside the band, restoring the planet’s homeostasis. It has become partially habitable, but our governments don’t want to rush the process and cause an environmental setback. At least, that’s what they say. Their real fear is a global turf war. In the Band, national identities consolidated into continental ones, pitting the biggest powers against each other. They all want more.

 

I hate them for that. I want humanity to be better, to be part of the solution. Otherwise, nothing will ever change, and I’ll be stuck up here forever shrinking into insignificance. That is my greatest fear.

 

A gentle knock on our apartment door stops my daily existential crisis. “Morning, Bruce!”

 

Dad opens the door to greet Cheryl, his girlfriend. “Now when did they start letting angels on board?” he says.

 

I roll my eyes. “Alright, you two. I’m ready, so let’s go. We’ve got a cruiser to catch.”

 

* * *

 

Our craft touches down. Light floods in as the door lurches open and our crew files out. I can’t hide my smile as I take in the untamed trees on the mountains and the clear blue water below our landing pad.

 

We walk along the shore of the lake until we come across a small clearing bordered by giant clay domes. At the center is an open market bustling with tall beings from another world.

 

Hurry, Lenny sends.

 

“I’ll start with my contact in the North End. Their last batch was promising,” I announce to Dad.

 

He steps close. “Eliza, stay with us,” he mutters. “It would be good for Cheryl to get to know you.” I stare in response. “Plus I think your ‘contact’ gets to see you more than I do. Please stay.”

 

“Give me an hour and then I’ll stick with the group for the rest of the trip.”

 

He hesitates, then sighs. “Deal.”

 

* * *

 

I reach the creek beside a solitary redwood. Lenny leans against it with his back to me.

 

He is tall by human comparison, but short for a Cultivator. His gray-green skin is smooth to the touch and much thicker than ours. His torso is small in proportion to a human's, but his long legs more than make up for his height. He wears the same style of clothes as we do, but with more elegance.

 

“Lenny! Sorry I’m late. It’s so good to finally see you. Tell me everything.”

 

He turns, and I can see his irises are enlarged, indicating he’s been crying.

 

“We’re leaving, Eliza.” he whispers. “The council decided Earth is ready.”

 

My heart sinks. “When?”

 

He tones a high pitch that I associate with worry. “I don’t know, but the community chatter is saying to be ready now. The portal will only open for a few seconds.”

 

Everything becomes a blur. I steady myself on the redwood.

 

“Have you decided?” he asks.

 

Someone steps out from a tree across the creek. “Decided what exactly?” It’s my father. “Eliza, what the hell is going on?”

 

I have no words, but Lenny speaks up: “Sir, this is a private conv—”

 

“Not when it involves my daughter! Eliza, we’re leaving,” he growls as he eyes Lenny with contempt. “We’ve received orders to return. Let’s go.” He splashes through the creek and pulls me along.

 

“Stop! I’m not going anywhere,” I say and push him off.

 

“Please, Eliza,” Lenny begs, “it’s now or never. We aren’t coming back. You were made to mend worlds, my dear.”

 

Dad points at Lenny, “Stop with your nonsense! I know what you are, planet thief!”

 

Lenny steps back and stares deeply into me. In his eyes I glimpse a planet that somehow I know is seventy-five million light-years away. It is beautiful and filled with people who need help. I feel the press of his mind. His urgency overwhelms, yet bolsters me. Will you come?

 

I hesitate, and the moment is over.

 

I look where Lenny was standing, but he’s gone. My father looks as shocked as I feel.

 

We walk back past the village in eerie silence. No Cultivators in sight. I sob as I look at the mountains.

 

Dad puts his arm around me, and I press my face into his shoulder. And I feel small.