Providence

Right to Move Freely

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

--- UN General Assembly, 1948, Universal declaration of human rights (217 [III] A). Paris. Art. 13

Erin is sitting on a stone ledge, dangling her feet over the edge. If she looks straight ahead, she can see the neutron star peeking above the mountainous horizon. Contrary to the grey mountains, the sky is very colourful, going from purple right above the horizon to a shade of blue and indigo, eventually becoming pitch black, only broken up by thousands of stars lining the sky. It is so different from looking at the red-purple aurora inside of the dome.

Erin smiles. This is what a sunrise or sunset must feel like. Or at least something very close to it. It is a star peaking from behind the horizon, after all.

Erin slowly breathes in through her mask, being careful to conserve her oxygen. This is one of the moments she truly feels at peace. She is outside of the dome. She is free. And even tho she will have no choice but to go back soon, she can and will enjoy her freedom while it lasts. She looks behind her. The giant dome is close by, only about five hundred meters away. It dominates Erin's view. But that is alright. Erin never expected to set foot outside of the dome, so even tho she didn't truly escape, this is a win. Finally, she is away from that horrible city. Finally, she feels at peace.

Her peaceful feeling is broken by a voice sounding from behind her.

"Erin, can we please go back?"

Erin turns around and looks at Gwen. Gwen is wearing white clothing covering all of her body except her face, Her mouth and nose are covered by a makeshift mask, just like Erin's. She is covering a large tank of oxygen on her back.

"Are you almost out of oxygen, Gwen?" Erin asks.

"No, I have still more than half left. It is just, my whole body is itching," She scratches her arm.

"Gwen, don't scratch it, it will make it worse," Erin replies. "Just let it be."

Gwen ignores her advice and keeps scratching. "I am also cold, my whole body hurts, and we still have a long way to go. Can we please go home?"

Erin sighs and taps the spot next to her. "Please come sit next to me, Gwen. Enjoy the view. How often do you get the change to see a sunset?"

Gwen hesitantly sits down. Erin grabs Gwen's hand, and they both sit in silence for a minute, watching the pulsar peeking above the horizon.

"I really don't get what is the big deal about this," Gwen says.

Erin scoffs. "It's this the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?"

Gwen sports a playful smile while biting her lip. "The most beautiful thing I ever saw is you!"

Erin laughs. "Thanks for the compliment, but if you think flattery is going to get you out of this, you are mistaken."

Gwen shrugs. "It was worth a shot." She rolls up her sleeve and starts to viciously scratch her skin.

"Gwen, keep it covered and don't scratch it, then it will be fine." Erin grabs Gwen's wrist, forcefully stopping her from hurting herself. She soon realises she is to late, as Gwen already scratched open her blisters. Ooze and blood are flowing from them, staining her white sleeve in yellow and red.

"Fine, let's go back," Erin says.

They both stand up and walk a few meters down, to a large metal cart. Erin isn't sure it can be called a cart, it is nothing more than a bunch of metal crates tied together with hempen rope. It is filled with large plastic bags filled to the brim with sand and dirt.