Please welcome our last but not the least contestant. She's just 13 but the way she thinks, the way she cares for this world is despite her age and way more mature, to represent her school here we've HOPE JONES, give her a big round of applause everyone."The announcer announced her name and gave her a mic while coming backstage.

Hope was gradually walking towards the stage while trying her best to smile.

Hope she doesn't mess up *The announcer said to Elsa*

Elsa looked at him annoyingly while getting worried for Hope.
Mrs.Presley saw Elsa backstage while waving at Hope and cheering for her.

Hope walked towards the centre of the stage and didn't say a word while looking at the judges and the audience members.

I think she doesn't remember anything from her speech, she wasn't well.* the announcer said to Elsa*

Well, no-one asked you, so keep quiet alright?*Elsa said*

Daughter*Elsa whispered but loud enough to get Hope's attention*

Hope looked at Elsa.

Elsa sighed while nodding and giving a thumbs-up sign to her.
Hope looked back towards the audience member and took a deep sigh as everyone started thinking that she was getting nervous.

She took a deep sigh again and began speaking...

"A very good afternoon to one and all present here.
Respected judges, teachers and my dear friends.
My name is Hope-Jones and today I am here to present my views on a very significant issue called GLOBAL WARMING.

As we all know, we should plant more trees not just to take pictures with it to show-off how responsible we are but because we genuinely care about our planet.
It's the year 2032 and I still hear the same thing that my mom used to hear when she was young. Where's the progress?...
*Hope was getting furious*

I.. I think we should take care of our mother nature..and...
Uh! I am sorry to the respected judges, I am sorry Mom but I just cannot keep on saying what I read in books and literally ignore the facts.

Regardless of this competition, I wanna put my viewpoint on this topic.

We all know how serious this matter is, just because it ain't happening tomorrow doesn't mean it won't happen ever.
I am sorry to say this but not just the glaciers are melting but also I barely see any birds around me that I used to see when I was 5 or 6 maybe? that my mom used to see when she was young, I can only see them in my books now and what about small insects?
Can anyone tell me where are they?

Are they all disappeared for no reason?
I know I might be sounding really preposterous now but to add insult to injury, I will continue embarrassing myself right here because someone has to say it.

I wanna ask this to every single person present in this room right now.
Do you people actually think that if we're ever gonna encounter an unfortunate catastrophe then we'll all, including all the animals, birds and every single one of us, are gonna make it?

Do you people actually believe that we're gonna live on Mars? I do believe that but every single one of us? I am sorry that doesn't sound affirmative to me.

We have time, we still have time.
Why don't we save our planet and give space scientists some more time, maybe to find a solution to this problem and actually make it happen? To actually save every single one of us.

It's good to explore space and find another planet where the survival of living beings is possible. Where the climate is suitable.
What's wholly wrong is, not saving what we have. This planet is a gift for us.

Why we're waiting for something bad to happen why not just make this feeling of "protecting our planet" alive. Why nothing has changed apart from a developed technology.

If we'll take these things seriously not just for saying and giving a speech about it but for real, precisely, I am 100% certain that we'll be able to save our Mother Earth and explore space from here. Save Earth, Save Future.

*Hope sighed*

I know I went off the topic but Global warming is increasing because of pollution and pollution is increasing because of our Ignorance.

I am really really thankful for this opportunity. Thank you so much for listening to me.
Thank you.*Hope said before leaving the stage*

Elsa was flummoxed, having a Déjà vu, blinking her eyes in confusion, discomfort and fear.
She was disturbed, disturbed by the voice flooding inside her head. Voice of Aakrit saying the exact same words when she asked him about the reason he wrote that letter to Hope indicating that he might not be able to read the letter by himself to Hope when she'll grow up.

Elsa had been hiding those letters for years, all of his letters, inventions, algorithms, books and whatnot from Hope to protect her from getting any close to this word TIME TRAVEL. She was really afraid that Hope's zeal for this planet might lead her to the exact footsteps of her father Aakrit.

Mom...Mom..MAMA*Hope said the moment she went backstage*

Elsa came out of her thoughts and looked at Hope.

I am sorry*She said and looked down*

No daughter, you did really well*Elsa said whilst smiling and hugged her.

Elsa went back to her seat with Hope while Senior year students were giving their speech about "Technology" one by one.

Hope, yay you did really well*Mrs. Presley said and gave her some cookies to eat*

Hope smiled while hugging her, and started eating as she was really hungry.

Elsa's POV: Elsa you don't understand someone has to do it, why don't we do something to give more time to space scientists *Aakrit's voice echoing inside her head*.

Why don't we save our planet and give some more time to space scientists*Hope's voice echoing inside her head*

Do you believe that we're gonna live on Mars? Every single one of us? I don't believe that*Hope's voice echoing*

Do you think when they say that we're gonna take the human race to Mars, they're talking about every single human?*Aakrit's voice echoing inside Elsa's head*

Time was passing by, the "Senior year recitation" came to an end and the award ceremony was about to commence.
Hope was feeling really sleepy after eating her lunch as she was quite tired as well because of waking up too early in the morning and not sleeping adequately a night before because of the excitement.
She rested her head on the back of her chair to get comfortable.

Elsa, I think she is not well and we should go home*Mrs. Presley said*

We can't let her down but we know she won't be getting a position today. I don't think they'll accept her speech.*Mrs. Presley said in a low voice*

We know how amazing her speech was, we know she recited it spontaneously but what we don't know is their rules to label a speech legitimate.*Mrs. Presley said*

Someone has to do it...We can't wait for bad things to happen...why don't we save our planet and give some more time to space scientists...
Do you think that we're all gonna make it?
Why don't we save it until we still have time? *Aakrit and Hope's voice echoing inside Elsa's mind*

ELSA? ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?
*Mrs. Presley raised her voice but kept it low enough to not disturb Hope.

Who...What? I.. I am sorry Mrs.Presley I was just... Uh!
What were you saying?*Elsa asked her while stammering*

I was saying that we don't know if Hope's speech is still under their rules, I don't wanna break her heart, remember how excited she was yesterday?
I think we should leave before the award ceremony begins.
Look, she doesn't seem well*Mrs. Presleys said*

I think you're right Mrs.Presley *Elsa said and looked at Hope*

Hope, baby, wake up, we're going home.
You can take a complete rest there.
We'll book a cab, you can sleep in the car*She said politely while ruffling Hope's hair gently*

Hope looked at her while her eyes were still not opened completely.
She nodded and stood up while holding Elsa's hand as the announcer was about to announce the position holders names any moment.

Elsa, Mrs.Presley and Hope walked out of the hall where they saw Hope's School Principal coming towards them while being on a call.

Talk to you later*She said and hung up*

Good afternoon Mrs.Elsa and Mrs.Presley, where are you going?*She asked while putting her phone back to her purse*

Hope is not feeling well and to be honest, we want to take her home happily from here*Elsa said*

What you mean happily and she looks fine to me, aren't you Hope?*She asked her while patting Hope's head*

Hope smiled and nodded yes.

Oh! Aren't you guys afraid about the disqualification of her?* the principal asked and sighed*

Mrs.Presley and Elsa looked at each other.

Come on, she did an extraordinary job there and one of the audience member who was also a judge but a secret one, he's one of the great scientists himself.

He's very impressed by her speech, I think she might win an award today and go home umm...happily?* the principal said and smiled *

Let's go back inside*She said and took them back inside the hall again*

And the first runner up is Daisy *The announcer said as the second runner up was already on stage and the odds of Hope to win now after that speech was becoming low.

And the winner of the State-level Junior Recitation Competition is...*The announcer said and took a pause*

Thank you so much for reading #SpreadLove
#RespectWhoDeservesIt
#NeverGiveUp <3 :). Love you all