Martian Jet Lag

She still couldn't shake the previous night's dream. Vivid dreams were a common side effect for people who were new to Mars. It had something to due with the recycled air and the change in gravity. Sheila Jackson had only been on Mars for about a fortnight and her reoccurring dream of being back on Earth was too much too bear.

Back on Terra the Government run media would refer to Sheila as a winner of the Martian Lottery, but everyone knew better. No one who actually "won" a life sentence to toil on Mars thought of themselves as a winner.

Sheila, however, knew was luckier than most. Her youth and good looks landed her a job working in one of the Martian casinos. Catering to the whims of the mega rich Terrain elite who vacationed on the Red Planet was a heck of a lot better than slaving away as a miner in the underground Martian mineral mines. In fact, when she first found out she would be sent to Mars Sheila was actually terrified that she would get assigned as a shared housewife to a hovel of miners in some isolated work colony. So getting placed in an easy job in a ritzy Martian Casino was a relief.

At the time she thought that with such a cushy job she could make it on Mars without the help of Steralaxol-5. She knew that almost all Martian colonists took the drug. The government prescribed it to all upon arrival. The thought was why should anyone have to suffer the loneliness, isolation and sense of loss that came with living on Mars without their happy pills. Pop a few of the mood altering anti-depressants and leave your cares behind.

But Sheila didn't want to leave her cares behind. When they sent her to Mars they took everything from her. She was determined not to let them take her mind as well. She wanted her happiness in the life to be genuine and not drug induced. She thought she was strong enough to make it on Mars without the Steralaxol-5.

Maybe if it wasn't for that recurring dream she could have. The dream haunted her nights and ruined her days. Every time she closed her eyes she was there, back on Earth, lying in the grass under the warm sun. It made her long for the home world she knew she could never see again. It depressed her and ate into her soul. It was the dream that broke Sheila.

Because she couldn't shake that dream Sheila knew she would have to take the Steralaxol-5. She would surrender and let them steal the only thing she had left, her soul.