‘I know that you have not heard from me in some time. You must be very worried, after so long without a word. I’m sure that mum is in pieces, I remember how she used to get when we’d come back late. I need to start by saying how sorry I am that I left it so long before I replied to your messages, but after the way that I left things, leaving so suddenly and without a word, I felt I needed to wait until I had achieved something, been something - so that you would understand why I did it - why I left.
‘Do you remember that meeting with Richard, you know - the one with the crazy hair? It was him. It was what he told me, that out there, so distantly even the greatest telescope couldn’t see it, was a palace set against the backdrop of heaven. I can never tell it as well as he does. Do you remember it at all?
‘I went back to see him when you had all fallen asleep. We spoke for hours. I went to see him every night, and every night I knew in my heart where I was meant to be.
‘He helped me get here! Can you imagine it?
‘Everything here is so new, so modern, its nothing like home. The best thing of all is the people. Everyone is so driven. We’re all united by a common purpose. I’ve never felt as though i’ve fit into anywhere as much as I do here. The whole community strives towards the betterment of itself. I sometimes walk amongst the crowds and just to absorb it all. I get this feeling washing over me of some great purpose, as though I can feel us all marching towards some great event.
‘But I’m also worried. There are rumours that the United World is losing control of the crisis. I hope that you are all keeping yourselves prepared. I thought about getting a ticket home, but most of the flights have been cancelled and anything that is still running is completely booked. It’s scaring a lot of people. I think it is the fact that they can’t get home. Some us have left so much behind - when we hear such news it leave behind a longing to be back with you.
‘The satellite link-ups in this place are so bad right now. The United World has taken over the commercial networks, so everyone here is writing home. It’s like something out of a novel. Can you imagine? People are using pen and paper!
‘I wanted to tell you sister, that no matter what happens out there its import that I stay right here. What we are doing here will change the world. We’re going to usher in a generation with no war and no fear. Imagine that. A world where we could be anything, like we always dreamed of, without fear. There’d be no more enemies, no more walls between us.
I wish you were here, I really do. You wouldn’t believe me even if I tried to describe this place. It’s so massive that I get so lost, like I always do when I visit Earth. The strangest thing is no one has really settled on an official name for this place, but we all call it Ascension. It’s silly I know - but once people started saying it, it just stuck. When it is finished there will be nothing to compare to it. I’m sure of that.
‘I nearly forgot to tell you about Blue Dawn, that’s the AI, who has been so very kind to me. She has made sure that everything that I could ever want has been taken care of. She looks after everyone. On my first day here she never left my side, made sure I got everything I needed. I’m not alone here. No one is.
‘I have already worked for two whole days, can you believe it? It not in service either. A real job!
‘They say that I am the perfect candidate and that in just a few days I’ll be ready to join their latest project. I can’t wait; the excitement is really starting to make me glow. Everyone says so. I look like a changed person.
‘I’m sure you are desperate to hear more from me, but it’s so late here. I will write a letter every evening, just to let you know that I am safe. I hope that you are all well and I hope that soon, when all these political tensions are over, you can come and visit me here. You’d love it, I promise.