By the time I was born on August 14th, 2036, rampant overpopulation and the severe abuse of natural resources had already ravaged my home planet. My planet’s name is Earth. The United States government approved the "Willow Project" in 2023, a terrible choice for the US government. Over the last 30 years, it released two-hundred thirty-seven million metric tons of carbon dioxide, causing an irreversible effect on the planet. The weather changed dramatically, sea levels rose, and radiation spread across the globe. Storms are becoming more frequent than ever before, with ice storms in places like the Arctic and cooler climates, wind storms in the sandy deserts, and fire outbreaks generated by lightning and gas explosions. Bombings resulted from rebellions starting in 2023, citizens began losing their rights in various states, then the whole country eventually. Beginning with conservative states, same-sex marriages, interfaith marriages, and even interracial marriages were prohibited. Transgender minors are being kidnapped from their homes, forced to detransition, and placed in unsupportive environments as a result of anti-transgender regulations. Gender-affirming care was taken away. In addition to taking away life-saving care, women's rights to their bodies were violated. Laws made abortion illegal for any woman no matter her age, regardless of whether she could die during delivery or if she was pregnant due to rape, incest, or both. If a woman obtained an abortion illegally, she could face execution, and the doctor responsible could face a life sentence in prison. Jim Crow laws had been overturned, making segregation between whites and blacks legal again, and laws were decreed to reinstate lynching. Native American children are getting seized from their parents. The country was becoming a fascist one. It was as if the United States was moving backward in time. In an attempt to be able to exercise constitutional rights such as “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” people battled legally and politically to overturn these laws. The close-minded side always had more votes, in 2038, the United States government proposed that these laws apply to the entire country. When uprisings began in Oregon, Washington, and California about these proposed new laws, they were shut down by law officers. People who disagreed with the government's choices were killed. Our country created to represent freedom was now a complete dictatorship, and no one could escape to another country, trains, boats, and planes were destroyed. All roadways to Canada and Mexico were blocked off. Anyone trying to flee the country would be murdered. The days became longer, the air became harsher and more polluted, and suicide rates increased rapidly. Everyone with a sense of morals and love for others in this country finally took a stand to start a genuine revolution when I had just turned sixteen. In the town I lived in, no conflicts and no government attacks arose until lately when many of the town folk decided to join the revolution against the dictatorship our country now had become. My name is Alice Flynn Eliza Fosser. I am seventeen years old, and this is the story of my life. I grew up in the small town of Telluride, Colorado. There were numerous Victorian-style buildings in Telluride, which was once named Columbia, and it was home to many rowdy miners back in the 1870s. Tent camps were in the valley below the Sheridan Mine as part of a string of local claims. Telluride was given its name in 1878 as a town. I find this name odd. Growing up, I attended Telluride Elementary. My teachers and family would tell me I had a bright mind and that my papers were well-written and dignified. I began journaling every day as early as first grade, creating stories or writing about my day in immense detail. During the bombing of my hometown, all of my work and the house I had grown up in, were obliterated by fire. I was devastated, as were my family and friends. Before the bombings, we heard whispers that they would come. So my cautious family created a strategy to gather all our necessities and flee the town. As I was packing my clothes and books, we heard fighter planes soar above. “Run! Get into the car!” my mother screamed at the top of her old smoker's lungs. I scooped up my cat, Bean, and scrambled to the car with only the clothes on my back and the half-filled duffel bag I never got to finish packing. I hopped into the back seat with my younger sister, Jade, who is only 14. Panic rushed through both of our bodies. My mother started the vehicle as quickly as possible. As she drove out of town, it felt like the bombs were right behind us due to the intense trembling of the Earth. However, they were now more than a mile away. But if we had not left when we did, the shock of the explosions would have killed us. As we fled, I looked behind us through the back window and watched my house, and my friend's houses, go up in flames. Five vehicles were traveling ahead of us that also managed to escape. Our car traveled swiftly and silently. No one spoke until we finally reached a temporary safe zone along with the vehicles that were traveling ahead of us. The only sound heard during our drive was my mother's lighting and then inhaling the cigarette she smoked once we were a safe distance away from the bombings. As we pulled up alongside a few other people, their faces showed anxiety and dread. We got to a part of the San Miguel River that was at least a mile or two away from any nearby towns or cities and set up camp there. There were four other families there despite there being five vehicles one family took two vehicles, one car, and one truck and they were leading the line of vehicles toward the river. In addition to the Taylor family, the Romeros, the Johnsons, and the Valdez family were present. My mother was good friends with Amelia Valdez, the mother of Lia and Savannah Valdez who were my schoolmates. Savannah was in my grade, and Lia was in the grade above us. Manuel was their father and the husband of Amelia, he was good friends with my dad, Xavier, before he left to go protest in Texas and was slaughtered by soldiers in the riots. He battled courageously, and although many people around him were being slain, he was glad to lay his life down for the cause of genuine freedom in our country. He wasn't my factual father though, he was my stepdad, but he is my younger sister's father. I considered him my dad since he had helped raised me, my biological dad walked out on us when I was two when the rebellion originally started, he went to join the soldiers fighting against the American people. I don't know whether he is dead or alive, but my mother and I don't care, since he is responsible for the deaths of innocent people. My biological father is of European descent, as is my mother, and so am I. But my dad, Xavier is of African descent, and my little sister is mixed, European and African descent. I would do anything to protect her beautiful soul from the racists in this horrible world and this horrible country. Unfortunately, because my parent's relationship was interracial, they were never able to get legally married because of these new laws. But they stayed strong and stayed together regardless. Lia and Savannah approached me, we weren't the best of friends in school but we had many classes together and considered each other friends. We even came to many of each other's birthday parties over the years, Savannah and I even dated for a while in secret during the 9th grade but broke up because we were scared of any judgment. This was routine for most same-sex couples during this rebellion, many people were afraid of what would happen if the wrong person or people saw them romantically together. Since we had been seeing many same-sex couples on the news holding hands in front of crowds and protesting, then for bombs or bullets to kill them as they broadcasted it to the nation. Savannah and Lia welcomed my sister and me with sad hugs, dread could be noticed on their faces as well as ours. We knew what was coming at us. The only thing to do was prepare and make sure to stick together. Everyone knew the outcome of this rebellion though, both sides would fall and our country would be destroyed by each other's bombs and gunfire. All of us have lost friends and family during this war between citizens and government, and the events that are unfolding now will be recorded in history books one day. We stayed at the camp we set up for about two weeks, and then today we decided that we would not hide anymore and join the fight. The Johnsons have many filled-up gas cans in the back of their truck, they came prepared. We all filled up our vehicles with gasoline and headed towards the White House, where the rest of the rebellion is heading. June 21st, 2053 was a warm afternoon. Our group gathered together, extremely nervous, but determined to do what was necessary to protect our freedoms. As we navigated to Washington D.C., we had no idea what would await us along the way. But what we did know was what was waiting for us in D.C. Many armed soldiers, tanks, and more lethal weapons. My family is prepared for an armed fight, and so are all the families traveling alongside us. Every family has a firearm for each member in their vehicle. Thankfully, no one had a child with them under the age of 12. This notebook was started before we began our drive. I found this notebook in my mother's glove box to document this journey and the reasons behind it all. My mother told me to rip out her used pages and keep the journal as my own. Approximately 1,650 miles separate Telluride from the White House, so it would take two days. As they drove there, adults alternated driving shifts. Gas stops were the only stops. The army must be surrounding the White House to prevent its destruction because there were no soldiers on our way there. We have many sticks of dynamite to light and throw through the windows, so we won't be stopped. After a long drive, we are finally in Washington D.C. Along the way, we saw many bodies on cities streets, along with destroyed buildings and fires. D.C. had the most destruction though, and not from the government, from the rebels. Our group evacuated our vehicles and headed toward President’s Park. As we were getting closer we could hear chanting and gunfire. I looked at my surroundings, I noticed the skies were much greyer in this area. Most likely due to the smoke of fires, the overwhelming smell of smoke filled my nostrils after I got out of the car, I feel fuzzy, but I will stand tall and fight my headache for the sake of my freedom and this country’s freedom. We arrived at President’s Park, there is a mob of people surrounding the White House in all directions, but in front of them guarding it is many soldiers with their guns drawn. I am joining the chant with the others. “What is America!? Where is our freedom!?” everyone was chanting in unison. I hear fighter planes above us.