On the fringe of a broken and desolate ravine two figures appeared, both bulky and cumbersome, weighed by something strapped to their backs. One was smaller than the other and also more careless, it moved faster and rushed to the rocky edge. Grey pebble crumbled beneath its feet and in a cloud of dust fell down the slope. Bigger figure came closer and held the smaller one’s hand firmly, preventing the fall.

They stood there listening to the angry howling winds, gazed far into wounded, arid and lifeless land, strewn with large rock formations and rifts. In the middle of the dead landscape small metallic dome sprouted from the cooked clay. The earth around it looked dark and there were fewer fissures, but it was still rough and lifeless.

Dense clouds sped up at low altitude as if in the futile attempt to leave this unwelcome place. But there weren’t any hospitable places left on this ravaged planet anymore. Dust storm was quickly forming in the distance, deceptively far. The lightning bolts at storm’s edge could be seen already, like a bizarre white forest, coming closer every minute, threatening. It felt like the land itself desperately wanted to drive the two visitors out.

And they’ve turned back and walked cautiously to their flyboat, shrouded in darkness and thick obscuring dust. Once inside, they removed their protective suits and mirrored helmets and strapped themselves to the seats. The big man smiled to his daughter and the boat darted up and forward, almost vertically, through the cloud wall.

- Daddy, when the flowers will start to grow? – asked the girl.
- Not today, dear. – answered her father somewhat wearily.
- You’re saying that every day, dad. You’ve promised me, remember?
- I know, princess. You’ve seen the plant, right? It’s working now and soon there will be a garden around it, you just wait.
- I hope so, – sighed the girl. – I really-really want to see the garden!
Man beckoned and pulled the controls.
- Let’s get back to our castle, princess. Or we’ll miss our meals; you know how strict she can be at times! – He said with a comically serious look much to the delight of his laughing daughter.

They finally breached through the darkness, rising above the boiling field of clouds to the bright sun, unseen from the surface. They were close to their home now.
Soon the boat was docked in the belly of a massive skyplatform, floating high in the stratosphere above the Earth. The two disembarked and the girl ran down the corridor to hug her mother.

- Dad said that the plants are working! – She exclaimed happily, - The flowers will grow soon! And the trees!
- Of course, dear, – Smiled the women, gently tousling her daughter’s short hair, - Come on, the dinner’s ready. And remember to go into deactivation chamber first, you hear me?
- Sure, mom! - giggled the girl, running away.

The man came close to his wife and embraced her, breathing sweet scent of her hair and skin. They stood like that for a minute and she gently kissed him but when he opened his eyes she looked worried.

- You’re telling her stories again? How soon?
- I don’t know. The readings were positive, but…  Maybe several years. Or more. It’s worse than we thought. We can condense enough water but the atmosphere won’t recover that fast.
- Almost everybody left already. There are some places still left on the escape ships...
- No.
- Even for our daughter?
- She will be fine here with us. Besides, there are other platforms. Not everybody are cowards, I just can’t believe that. It’s our legacy! We can revive our world; it’s just not as fast as we hoped. But we cannot simply leave it like that after what we’ve done to it. Do you remember my promise? Someday I’ll bring you flowers from the surface…

She looked seriously in his eyes for a long time and sighed very quietly. Then a calm smile came across her lips and she held her husband’s hand firmly in hers, pulling him forward. He stopped, brought her close and hugged her again before rushing playfully to the dining room. They’ve had a lot of work tomorrow.