[ WP ] Earth is about to end . People are evacuating via spaceships . There is only room for one more person in the last escape pod . A father says his last words to his daughter and places her on the ship .

The ground rumbles and the skies quake. The normally blue skies have had a greenish tint for years, due to the chemical imbalance in the atmosphere and the constant solar flares. Earth was simply too unstable to function anymore. 
 
 Immediately after NASA came to this conclusion, the world's leaders agreed to build spaceships for the evacuation. They could house up to five thousand people each, and had everything a normal city would have. It reminds me of my younger days and going to the hologram theater with my parents. They were showing old movies for a dollar on Tuesday and they showed an old flick in which all humans went on a permanent vacation in spaceships. They lived in comfort because Earth became barren and full of trash. This is how I explained it to Mia. 
 
 `` Sweetie, you're going on a vacation because Earth is just too dangerous to live on anymore,'' I said to her the night before, `` Do n't worry, I'll be there with you and we'll vacation together.'' 
 
 `` That's all I want Daddy,'' she said, `` I do n't want to be scared anymore, and I want to be happy with you.'' 
 
 Her five year old mind could n't possibly remember her mother, who died in a car accident when she was two. All she had was me, and I've been working two jobs her whole life to make sure she was happy. She was all I have, and I had to make sure that I gave her the best life possible. I would n't give her up for anything. 
 
 When I came time to enter the pod terminal, we both saw the long lines to board. I heard a small sigh come from Mia's mouth. `` What's wrong Mi?'' I ask. She could n't possibly stay still these next few hours, and the pod terminal is no place for a five year old. 
 
 `` Daddy, these lines are so long,'' she says, `` What if they wo n't let us go on vacation?'' 
 
 `` Oh I will make sure we will,'' I say, `` I promise.'' I hug her and we begin to play games to occupy her mind. `` I spy with my little eye something blue,'' I say. 
 
 Her face contorts into her thinking face, an outrageous mix of a scowl and knitted eyebrows. I sure will miss this when she gets older, the pure wonder of the world. `` That man's water bottle!'' she says, loud enough for the whole terminal to hear. `` Yes!'' I say, even though it was the bow tied to her suitcase. She always loved winning, the way her eyes lit up just made me so happy. 
 
 As the line crawled forward, we finally ended up at the front. `` There is only room for one on this pod, and it is the last to leave from here,'' the attendant says. `` I'm sorry, but you and your child will have to -'' 
 
 `` Wait,'' I say, my heart breaking with every breath. Tears start to well in my eyes. *She needs me, but she needs to live even more. * I try to convince myself it will be okay. It will. I place her on the steps in front of me. `` She's going instead of me.'' 
 
 I can already see her eyes start to fill with tears, and I bend down to her level. `` Mi, you have to be strong. These wonderful ladies will take care of you on your vacation. I have to stay here, but I'm going to go visit Mommy and I'll probably end up staying with her,'' I say as I can hear her soft whimpers. `` Mommy would want you to go on vacation. Just always remember that I love you and I would never leave you. I'll always be with you and checking on you. Do n't worry about me, just live life like you always would and see things in a positive light. Never let other people doubt you, and never feel like you are alone. I love you Mia. Goodbye.'' I kiss her on the forehead and watch as the attendant ushers her into the escape pod. Just as the doors begin to close I hear Mia's voice. `` I love you Daddy!'' 
 
 I walk outside into the carbon dioxide-filled air and take a deep breath. `` I love you Mia!'' I yell to the rising pod as the blackness begins to creep in. `` I'll always be here.''
