Here’s my contribution to this week’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, kindly hosted by Priceless Joy.
Gregor stood unblinking against the endless expanse of red, scanning the horizon for signs of life. Crossing the great desert was suicide, they’d known that when they had set off, but they were dead anyway and better it be on their own terms. Amali absently rubbed her tiny belly as she stood beside him.
Humanity’s solution to an overpopulated, drowning, earth was to dump those displaced by rising oceans on Mars. They helped the chances of survival by establishing hundreds of tiny colonies, scattered over an unforgiving landscape. However the architects of this new world had never planned on their experiment lasting this long, and four generations later most of the colonies had been wiped out by hunger, disease, and our innate inability at getting along.
Survival was dependent on scarce resources, and maintaining a strict quota on births was the only way ensure the survival of the colony.
Those who didn’t agree had no choice but to find themselves a new home, or die trying.
tastyniblets 
This is great T.N.! The images you describe are very vivid and it leaves me frightened for those who are trying to survive in such an unforgiving and hostile land. I can easily see this being turned into a novel. The scene you have described scratches the emotions of the reader to cheer on those trying to survive. Excellent! Thank you for participating in Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers Challenge!
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Ah thankyou PJ 😊 I’m working on a story that I’ve been tossing around in my head for a while now- not set on Mars but a part of it involves the same themes of desperation.. I’m planning to work on it over November for nanowrimo so hopefully I can get it going then 🙂
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That sounds wonderful! That is great you are going to participate in the NaNoWriMo in November! I’m sure you will do well!
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Those were pretty harsh times! Hard decisions made and when the outcome of those decisions turn negative, it’s time to rethink the situation and go in a different direction. Great take on the prompt. 🙂
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Thanks Jessie- they’ll land on their feet I think 🙂
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Oh dear, what a dreadful futuristic story. Poor moms who had to face the sacrfice. Very interesting story
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Thanks Huma 🙂
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A wonderful story! I really hope they somehow manage to survive the desert – mankind has always been adaptable, after all. 🙂
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Thanks Louise – yes I think they might end up at an abandoned colony for a happy ending 😊
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Wow! Such a good sci-fi story. It is unique on the prompt as well. 🙂
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Thankyou Susan lovely of you to say so 😊
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