Four years ago to the date. I remember where I was that day. I think we all do. There are just certain events that you can just immediately recall who you were with and what you were doing. June 2nd was one of those days.

I woke up and hopped out of bed, a few minutes behind, as usual. Snooze is the best and worst invention in the world. Needless to say, I was probably going to be late for work again. My cat, Einstein, was meowing in the kitchen as I threw on a clean outfit and rushed to feed him. Food spilled all over the floor and that little turd of a cat tried scarfing it down as fast as he could while I tried to clean it up. Now he’s not going to eat dinner for as much as he ate for breakfast. I’m already stressed at this point and now the clock says 7:47. I have thirteen minutes to get to work. THIRTEEN. Usually, if there isn’t any traffic, it takes me twenty minutes to get to work.

But I would never make it to work that day. Everyone was standing outside as I was rushing to the car. I nearly made it to the highway before I noticed that the sky had darkened. Complete daylight had vanished. Everyone on the road had stopped dead in their tracks, exited their vehicles, and turned their heads to the sky. I did the same. My palms started sweating and my heart was racing so fast that it felt like I had just run a marathon. And I wasn’t even sure what I was looking at.

It was so large that it had completely eclipsed the sky. Well, at least the city. As far as we could tell. But once it ‘landed’ it just hovered there. I could feel the people around me, waiting for what would come next. For the next hour, we all just watched. No one moved or said a word. A few whispers and the radio talk shows talking about this thing buzzed over the crowd. Slowly, people began to return to their homes, the traffic died down, and I went back to my cat. Work, obviously, wasn’t going to say anything about my absence. Not with this ship or whateverthehellitis in the sky.

Around 9:00PM was when things began to get weirder. The few family that I still had already called to make sure I was okay. They only saw the stories while I was living in this moment. It was right above my head. There were news outlets all around the city, asking rhetorical questions that no one knew the answer to. And then, the damn thing began to glow. But it didn’t come from lights. It pulsated like veins – scattering like lightning across the sky. This vessel was somehow alive. First it was an eerie red, and then green. I could hear the screams in the streets. Fear.

But, despite what I may or may not have told my family, I wasn’t afraid. I was more intrigued than anything. My neighbor and I just sat on our porch and watched the events unfold. Was this the end of the world? Maybe. But even if it was, we couldn’t stop it. So why worry?

An hour had passed before the middle of this thing opened and the otherworldly beings began to float down to Earth. These things, wherever they came from, were the most wild-looking things I had ever seen. They were human-like, but extremely tall and sheet white. Even their attire, which resembled robes, were the very same color. Some people in the streets called them angels, but that was doubtful. How do I know? One landed on my porch.

My neighbor ran inside. The more I thought about the possibility of an invasion, the more fearful I became. But this thing was so beautiful. It couldn’t be harmful, could it?

“You have been chosen,” it said in perfect English. This race must have learned our language before coming here. Or maybe I was just hearing it in my head. “You are a survivor. Your past pain will be rewarded. We have been watching.”

***

And that was the last that I remember. From what the others have told me – the other survivors – they grabbed up a few of us and brought us onto the ship, adorned us with their clothing, and enslaved the rest. First, it was the state, and then the entire West Coast, then the United States, and slowly but surely, the world. Each time, they would descend and choose their survivors, and then the warriors would take over.

There are so few of us. Maybe a few thousand or so. We stand watch over our areas and act as messengers from these creatures. If we fail or retaliate, they kill us. So many have died and I once cried for them. But now, I just do as they say with little thought. At least they let me keep Einstein. He’s the only thing that keeps me company anymore.

Four years ago to the date. I remember where I was that day. I think we all did. Well, those of us who are still here.

***

I’m so so sorry for being gone for so long! I was having issues with WordPress not wanting to work on my computer, but I’ve figured it out! 🙂

Quick Update: I’m almost done with the final edits of Preservation so be on the lookout for the release!