Project Genesis

Josh's heart pounded as he held the photograph—a picture of himself dressed in an astronaut jumpsuit, standing beside his Aunt at NASA. His mind reeled. He hadn’t set foot in NASA since his Aunt's passing years ago. How was this even possible? His thoughts swirled with confusion and a torrent of questions.

Studying the photo, Josh felt a shiver down his spine. The young version of himself looked so proud, both of them smiling at the camera. But he had no memory of this moment; it was as if it had never occurred.

Determined to unravel this mystery, Josh started with the date on the back of the photo. It was taken a month before his Aunt's death, deepening his bewilderment. Aunt Rose had been gravely ill by then.

He reached out to his cousin Sarah, Aunt Rose's close confidante. Perhaps she had some answers. Sarah shared Josh's astonishment at the photo. She recalled the odd behavior towards the end. Aunt Rose, a long-time NASA employee, had suddenly become secretive about her work. After falling ill, she stopped mentioning it altogether. Sarah reminded him of their conversation years ago when they noticed Aunt Rose's evasiveness about her job.

Still, the photo remained a puzzle. Determined to uncover the truth, Josh approached friends at NASA, only to be met with resistance. In frustration, he sought out Mrs. Thompson, Aunt Rose's closest friend.

When Josh confided in Mrs. Thompson, her eyes betrayed a glint of knowledge. She hesitated before revealing, “We were never sure you’d remember.”

His heart skipped. What was Mrs. Thompson hiding? She disclosed Aunt Rose's involvement in a secretive NASA project, Project Genesis. Aunt Rose had wanted Josh to participate. The day of the photo was the last time anyone saw him until the funeral. Josh's memories had been altered, against Aunt Rose's wishes. She had wanted him to remember, but someone else had intervened.

Stunned, Josh learned about Aunt Rose's groundbreaking research into sending civilians into space. Aunt Rose's vision was to have Josh join her in the first lunar colonization mission, Rose Colony One. However, the government wanted the project concealed. Aunt Rose was forced to report only to her superiors.

Josh was floored by these revelations. Aunt Rose had been an inspiration, but he had no idea of her monumental accomplishments. In the files, he found a letter from Aunt Rose on the day of the photograph. She revealed NASA's intention to establish a military base on the moon and her need to leave everything and everyone behind, including Josh, to protect him from the dangers of her work.

Tears welled up as Josh continued reading. Was Aunt Rose gone? She had always been his protector, but in her final years, she had become distant.

His voice trembling, Josh asked Mrs. Thompson, “Is Aunt Rose really dead?”

Mrs. Thompson replied, “No, but to us, she is. None of us will ever see her again.”

A surge of anger and sadness washed over Josh. Mrs. Thompson explained that Aunt Rose had no choice. To continue her work, she had to leave and never return. Mourning her death was the only option. Mrs. Thompson revealed NASA's promise to Josh: if he completed training and agreed to their terms, he could join Rose Colony Two and be reunited with Aunt Rose.

Aunt Rose had left the photo for Josh, knowing it would trigger his memories. She wanted him to have a choice, something she never had. But Josh would have to fake his own death.

Grateful and determined, Josh thanked Mrs. Thompson. He burned the files and photo as instructed. Just then, Sarah arrived. He had texted her to come over. Josh explained everything and shared his decision.

Sarah cried, torn between missing him and wanting to join. Realizing Josh intended to offer her the same opportunity Aunt Rose had given him, she hugged him and said, “Let’s go.”

The trio visited NASA with Mrs. Thompson, where Josh honored Aunt Rose's legacy. They were given a VIP tour, witnessing Aunt Rose’s achievements. Sarah was photographed in an astronaut jumpsuit, ready to follow in their footsteps. She promised to continue Aunt Rose’s work or be reunited with them someday.

As they left, looking up at the stars, Josh and Sarah smiled, feeling Aunt Rose's presence. They wondered if the world would ever know about Aunt Rose's pioneering efforts on the moon. Sarah had no memory of the day's discoveries at NASA. As they drove away, Josh felt peace, confident that he would soon join Aunt Rose on the lunar surface, leaving Sarah with hope to share Aunt Rose's story one day.