The Ignorant, Alert, and Suffering

The Ignorant

I stared out the window of the truck as the man continued to drive to the gas station. My car was being pulled by the truck, as I had forgotten that I was running low on gas. I had to call in somebody to tow my car to a gas station and once the man arrived, without preamble, he began tying my car onto his truck. 

The smell of smoke filled the air as the man held his cigarette out the window, not bothering to notice how uncomfortable I had gotten at the smell. At least he had the decency to puff the smoke out of the vehicle. 

We were currently paused at a red light, what seemed like a mall being constructed at my right caught my attention. 

“Heyario Mall!! Opening 09/24! Biggest Mall In America!”

Signs with the same writing were plastered all over nearby stores, the only variance being the color and size. The sun was beating down on the workers as they dug around the construction site, sweat and exhaustion visibly present on all of them. Smoke from the machines hovering all over the streets.

These days, it has been getting hotter. Summer was on its way, yes, but the heat was excruciatingly high. There was a girl in one of my lectures that passed out signs to the class now and then. They had some sort of warning, something about the world dying and overheating. She was labeled as the crazy kid in class, so everyone maintained their distance.

Except, of course, the other environmentalists around. They would convince the professor to postpone his lecture and talk about global warming, which he would more than gladly comply with whenever he was in no mood to teach. 

I never paid attention to them. All I wanted to do was finish university and find an easygoing job that pays well and relax. Not enter some sort of group that cleans trash all day.

We had finally made it to the station, the man effortlessly placing my car down near the pump and leaving without so much of a goodbye. I didn’t care. He did his job and I paid my debt, no communication is needed.

I filled my empty car with enough gasoline for the bar to reach full capacity, sighing as the heat made its way towards my bones. I glanced at the store by the station, a big poster advertising a brand new iced treat that came out a few days ago. 

I decided that it’s a good idea to try it out for the first time so I entered the store and grabbed myself one. For some reason, all the lights were on even though the sun provided enough radiance. The sound of the AC, the freezers, and what I thought was a sports game playing from the old TV in the corner was the only thing echoing through the store.

I thanked the cashier and stepped out to eat my dessert in peace, slowly licking the popsicle to its wooden stick. I glanced around the area and couldn’t seem to pick up on any nearby garbage cans. So I headed towards my car to throw the wrapper and stick it into my cup holders.

I began my journey back home, deeming this day too hot to do anything productive. Once I opened my window, the wrapper for the treat I had earlier flew out of it, causing me to mutter a few curses and signal an apology towards the car behind me.

I sighed while waiting for traffic.

Today’s been too long.

The Alert

I bowed one more time towards the crowd. I wasn’t going to give up. After all, it’s our planet. 

“I was invited to the latest meeting provided by our town. A few of my friends in the 'Mother Nature Club' noticed the ongoing instruction for the new mall and were on the verge of exploding. Our protests for more solar power and less plastic waste are all going in vain.

I have spent hours cleaning the side roads and trying to convince people in my lectures to help prevent this excessive waste, and I don’t see any change.

This heatwave we are going through, it’s all because of global warming. Antarctica has lost three trillion tons of ice, ancient glaciers are melting, droughts are happening, and it’s all because we are too selfish to take care of our world.

What is it going to take for you to notice that our Earth is signaling for help? Signaling for us to find a way to let our Earth breathe? Is having hundreds of thousands of trees cut down a day making you happy? And for what, to make paper that you won’t even get recycled?

Why is the mall that is being built downtown needed? We have one in the next town over, and it’s only fifteen minutes away. Why won’t you reinforce solar panels on all buildings? Because people will save money? That gas station down the road, the lights are on even though the sun is right there. 

Have you ever stopped on the highway and seen the amount of trash that is being thrown from cars? Gasoline is also a problem. Believe it or not, electric cars exist. We just have to normalize them instead of gas cars.

As humans, it’s natural to be selfish, it’s natural to not want to complicate your mind with tiny problems here and there. But those small problems will eventually become big. Big enough for you to wish you had solved these problems earlier.

So all that is needed is for you to put your environment first. To begin rethinking your needs and wants. Baby steps. That is all that is required.”

After stepping out into the empty lobby, I replayed my speech over and over in my head, hoping it was enough for the people present to rethink their values. 

I huffed a heated breath and grabbed my metal bottle to take a sip of my iced water that is stored inside. 

The heat has been gradually getting worse. The traffic everywhere is only increasing it. 

I glanced around the area and found no one present. kneeling on the floor, I offered a prayer for our Earth, hoping one day everyone would be able to see what I see and help me save her.

The Suffering

I knew my condition was getting worse. My fevers were getting stronger and lasting longer as well. A few of the ice I had stored were disappearing. Parts of my habitat were being burned. My animal children were getting killed daily.

I tried to fight back. I have. A few water leaks here, a fire there. Though it doesn't seem to be working.

I knew there were still a few of my human children who still cared about my health because I hear their prayers every night. Even though it was barely noticeable, I knew some cared about what the plastic was doing to me and the animals.

And for that, I want to thank them. Thank them for caring about me when most of my children don’t.

But I don’t blame them. I’m not angry, just saddened by that fact. I know not everyone has time to care about what can they should throw their garbage into, and don't have time to go and buy reusable bags. So I forgive you.

But please save me. It’s getting more suffocating by the hour. I don’t think I have a lot of time. 

Please, I am begging you.

From…

Your Mother Earth.