The Good in the Rise
Title
The Good in the Rise
Creator
Sofia Torrech
Date
04/17/2023
Text
PROLOGUE
The year is 2126, and climate change has continued on for the worst – as experts had predicted it would if action was not taken – and the current day looks much different than it did decades ago… much different than it looked even twenty years ago.
Once the ice caps began to melt, they melted faster than most of society was able to handle. The Maldives for instance are nothing but underwater relics now and the Netherlands are soon to be the same. The United States of America have been able to cope unlike the previously mentioned areas, thanks to their seeming never ending flow of money. However, all the money in the world will never be able to stop climate change (not now at least), money could only delay it, until you reach a point where you have to learn to adapt instead of cope.
A spot at one of the southernmost points of the great USA has reached this point we just spoke about. Sea levels have risen by six feet in South Florida, and the “salt life” has reached inland. Locals have been forced to abandon their cars and turn to kayaks and paddleboards for short distance commutes and to the metrorail for longer distances; but while these may seem like solutions they are only but a bandaid. With South Florida already being over populated as is, metrorail’s are quickly becoming more packed to the point where there are simply not enough of them to move the people of the cities. Miami, Florida, is the city facing the most trouble now regarding transportation. Thankfully, there are people who are trying to work on this ongoing issue, or rather, a person who is.
Taylor.
END PROLOGUE
Taylor knew at the end of the valedictorian speech of her bachelors degree graduation from Miami University that what they have been saying to her all her life… It was true.
Her generation is the one that is going to fix this world (how was up to question, but they will be), more specifically, she is going to be the one to fix the world. Or maybe the one to start the fix at least – Taylor can be overambitious at times.
She wanted to be the start of people wanting to do good for the sole reason of being good, and not for any ulterior motives like money and recognition, she really did not care for things like that. She wanted to be good, because she was simply good.
— —
“Kai! Steph is coming over for dinner, what are you making?”
Taylor screams across the small apartment.
“Probably spaghetti, we don’t have much else right now, and I don’t really wanna go to the store right now to get anything else,” Kai answers.
“Okay love, I’ll let her know.”
“Tell her that her UNO winning streak ends today, and that I mean it this time!”
Kai hears Taylors contained, but wholesome laugh coming from the living room as he steps out of the shower.
Many think the three of them (Taylor, Kai, and Steph) to be in a love triangle of sorts, but anyone who takes a chance to get to know them knows this is far from the truth.
Taylor and Kai met in college after getting grouped together for a group assignment and went through the stages from friends to dating to breaking up, but still remained friends about three times in the past three and a half years. But there is something different about this time, and I think the dating will last.
As for Steph, she has been Taylor's best friend since highschool, and is more like a sister to her than anything else. This friendship eventually extended to Kai as well and now Steph sees him as a brother and her like a sister too. Together, Taylor and Kai constantly help, laugh, and comfort Steph through her failed relationships, because like Taylor, Steph is good; and people tend to take advantage of that.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
That loud and forceful knock can only mean one thing… Steph has arrived for spaghetti.
“Coming!” Taylor says as she walks to open the door.
“Kai, that smells absolutely amazing.” Steph says as she takes whiffs of the air.
“It’s this new sauce that I got last time I went to the store, I think this ones a keeper,” he says with a grin on his face, since he has been on a hunt for the perfect pre-made pasta sauce.
After eating and well into their spiral of UNO and conversation, Steph had noticed that Taylor had been more quiet than she usually is.
“Hey, T, everything okay?” Steph questioned to Taylor
“I got it.” She spoke softly.
“Got what, T?” Steph proceeded to ask.
“I figured out the engine, I know why it hasn’t been working…
I- I- I- got it, I know why, it all makes sense now…”
Taylor continued to quietly ramble while she was thinking and all the pieces in her mind were coming together before her.
Kai and Steph dropped their cards on the table, in shock, and just looked at Taylor, also in shock herself. They were used to Taylor's random outbursts of intelligence, but this seemed different. This seemed more...real.
"Okay, T, let's hear it." Kai said, leaning in.
Not five minutes later, after somewhat organizing her thoughts, Taylor pulls out her white board and explains what was going on in her mind. There’s too much physics for me to understand and to explain, but what she is saying sounds like it makes sense if you understand the logic.
Taylor wiped the board clean, took a deep breath, and began.
"We know that the metro rails are getting more and more packed by the day, right? And we also know that there are only so many trains that can be added to the system before it becomes unsustainable and unsafe, right?" Taylor asked.
Kai and Steph nodded their heads in agreement.
"Well, what if we took to the water?" Taylor continued. "What if we created a water transportation system that connects the cities in South Florida?"
Kai's eyes widened as he leaned back in his chair, while Steph furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean, T? Like boats?" Steph asked.
"Yes! But not just any boats. We would create a fleet of electric boats that would transport people between the different cities in South Florida." Taylor explained.
Kai's eyes lit up as he realized the potential of Taylor's idea. "And we could make them autonomous! That way, they could run 24/7 without the need for a human operator."
Steph's face brightened as she finally understood the plan. "And we could make them accessible for everyone, not just those who live near the water. We could create docking stations in the cities, like how we have bus stops and train stations."
Taylor nodded enthusiastically, "Exactly! And the best part is, we wouldn't have to worry about traffic or congestion, and it would be environmentally friendly since the boats would run on electricity."
Kai looked at Taylor with admiration, "T, this is incredible. We have to make this happen."
Taylor smiled, "Now we see how we can make this a reality."
Steph grinned, "Count me in. I'll help with whatever you need."
Kai nodded, "Same here. Let's do this."
And with that, the three of them set off to make this idea reality.
Kai took in her green eyes and messily picked up brown hair, but his heart broke for her, because he knows what this means for her once this idea gets out into the world. And he knows Steph feels the same way too after they both look at each other with the same expression.
— —
Precisely one week after that night, Taylor had a pitch meeting with a bank to see if they could fund her research since she had reached her breakthrough to make the engine work.
“The hydro-engine is a beginning to energy we never thought possible. By combining water and hydrogen through a practical process of nuclear fission we will be able to source clean energy that is truly clean for the first time in history.”
The members present at the meeting looked at her with the same befuddled face anyone would who said that nuclear fission could ever be practical.
“I know what you all must be thinking, because I thought of it too. Until I realized that if I step back and look at this issue from a different perspective…”
Taylor went on to explain her logic behind practical nuclear fission, and even though I don’t understand it, those who were in the meeting do because by the end of that pitch meeting their faces went from perplexed to intrigued and enthusiastic.
“With your help, I could develop a team that could solve the transportation problem that is only facing us now, but that will face the whole world in the foreseeable future.”
The investors were hooked, but they weren’t naive either, so they told her that they would get back to her in the next week regarding their pitch, which is exactly what Taylor was afraid of.
— — —
Two days later, Taylor receives a phone call from the investors saying that they won’t be able to fund her project because they had already had someone with a similar idea who would require less funding. This was her fear come true, that her idea would be leaked and be swept up by some big corporate companies whose purpose is the dollar sign and not helping humanity.
After sharing the news with Steph and Kai, the three of them decided that with funding or no funding they were going to do everything in their power to take this concept/idea live before someone else does.
Over the next few months, Taylor, Kai, and Steph worked relentlessly to bring the idea to life. They spent hours on end researching, meeting with experts, and scraping for funding for the project.
It wasn't easy, but their determination kept them going.
Then finally, after months of hard work, they were ready to unveil their plan to the public.
They called it HydraMove.
HydraMove was a network of electric boats powered by the hydrogen engines that would connect the cities in South Florida, providing a faster and more environmentally friendly mode of transportation for the growing population. The boats would be autonomous and run on electricity, making them sustainable and accessible to everyone.
A well known transportation development program eventually caught wind of the project and, impressed by their vision and determination, decided to fund the project. Taylor was contacted directly by Dr. Vasquez, the head engineer of this program.
“Hey Taylor, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Kai said with a concerned expression.
“I just got an email from Dr. Vasquez. She wants me to present the HydraMove design at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in New York,” Taylor said, her voice shaking with excitement and nervousness.
“That’s amazing, Taylor!” Steph exclaimed. “Your hard work is finally paying off.”
“I know, but I’m also scared. What if the engine doesn’t work as well as I thought it would?” Taylor said, wringing her hands together.
“Don’t worry, Tay. You’ve put in countless hours of research and testing. The HydraMove design is the real deal,” Kai reassured her.
“Thanks, guys. I really appreciate your support,” Taylor said with a smile.
As the day of the conference approached, Taylor was a bundle of nerves. She had practiced her presentation countless times and knew the HydraMove design inside and out, but the thought of presenting in front of hundreds of experts in the field was daunting.
Finally, the day arrived. Taylor took a few deep breaths and walked onto the stage, feeling a rush of adrenaline. She began her presentation, explaining the design and how it could revolutionize the way we power vehicles and machines.
The audience was captivated, nodding along and asking questions. When she finished, there was a round of applause, and Dr. Vasquez soon after stepped forward to congratulate her on the accomplishment.
“Taylor, that was an incredible presentation. Your engine design has the potential to change the world. I would like to offer you a position at the transportation programs engineering labs, where you can continue to work on this project,” Dr. Vasquez said, smiling.
Tears formed in Taylor’s eyes. This was everything she had ever wanted, and more.
“I would love to accept your offer, thank you so much,” Taylor said, ecstatic.
As time went on, Taylor continued to amplify her engine design, improving its efficiency and honing it to perfection with the help of her research team. Her lab became world renowned in the transportation industry, and Taylor was constantly being invited to speak at conferences and events all over the world.
However, despite all the recognition, Taylor always remained humbled, never forgetting her original purpose.
Her purpose in leaving this place is better than she found it.
Her purpose in aiding the survival of her home in South Florida.
And her purpose is being the good of the world, and to set an example for generations to come.
The year is 2126, and climate change has continued on for the worst – as experts had predicted it would if action was not taken – and the current day looks much different than it did decades ago… much different than it looked even twenty years ago.
Once the ice caps began to melt, they melted faster than most of society was able to handle. The Maldives for instance are nothing but underwater relics now and the Netherlands are soon to be the same. The United States of America have been able to cope unlike the previously mentioned areas, thanks to their seeming never ending flow of money. However, all the money in the world will never be able to stop climate change (not now at least), money could only delay it, until you reach a point where you have to learn to adapt instead of cope.
A spot at one of the southernmost points of the great USA has reached this point we just spoke about. Sea levels have risen by six feet in South Florida, and the “salt life” has reached inland. Locals have been forced to abandon their cars and turn to kayaks and paddleboards for short distance commutes and to the metrorail for longer distances; but while these may seem like solutions they are only but a bandaid. With South Florida already being over populated as is, metrorail’s are quickly becoming more packed to the point where there are simply not enough of them to move the people of the cities. Miami, Florida, is the city facing the most trouble now regarding transportation. Thankfully, there are people who are trying to work on this ongoing issue, or rather, a person who is.
Taylor.
END PROLOGUE
Taylor knew at the end of the valedictorian speech of her bachelors degree graduation from Miami University that what they have been saying to her all her life… It was true.
Her generation is the one that is going to fix this world (how was up to question, but they will be), more specifically, she is going to be the one to fix the world. Or maybe the one to start the fix at least – Taylor can be overambitious at times.
She wanted to be the start of people wanting to do good for the sole reason of being good, and not for any ulterior motives like money and recognition, she really did not care for things like that. She wanted to be good, because she was simply good.
— —
“Kai! Steph is coming over for dinner, what are you making?”
Taylor screams across the small apartment.
“Probably spaghetti, we don’t have much else right now, and I don’t really wanna go to the store right now to get anything else,” Kai answers.
“Okay love, I’ll let her know.”
“Tell her that her UNO winning streak ends today, and that I mean it this time!”
Kai hears Taylors contained, but wholesome laugh coming from the living room as he steps out of the shower.
Many think the three of them (Taylor, Kai, and Steph) to be in a love triangle of sorts, but anyone who takes a chance to get to know them knows this is far from the truth.
Taylor and Kai met in college after getting grouped together for a group assignment and went through the stages from friends to dating to breaking up, but still remained friends about three times in the past three and a half years. But there is something different about this time, and I think the dating will last.
As for Steph, she has been Taylor's best friend since highschool, and is more like a sister to her than anything else. This friendship eventually extended to Kai as well and now Steph sees him as a brother and her like a sister too. Together, Taylor and Kai constantly help, laugh, and comfort Steph through her failed relationships, because like Taylor, Steph is good; and people tend to take advantage of that.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
That loud and forceful knock can only mean one thing… Steph has arrived for spaghetti.
“Coming!” Taylor says as she walks to open the door.
“Kai, that smells absolutely amazing.” Steph says as she takes whiffs of the air.
“It’s this new sauce that I got last time I went to the store, I think this ones a keeper,” he says with a grin on his face, since he has been on a hunt for the perfect pre-made pasta sauce.
After eating and well into their spiral of UNO and conversation, Steph had noticed that Taylor had been more quiet than she usually is.
“Hey, T, everything okay?” Steph questioned to Taylor
“I got it.” She spoke softly.
“Got what, T?” Steph proceeded to ask.
“I figured out the engine, I know why it hasn’t been working…
I- I- I- got it, I know why, it all makes sense now…”
Taylor continued to quietly ramble while she was thinking and all the pieces in her mind were coming together before her.
Kai and Steph dropped their cards on the table, in shock, and just looked at Taylor, also in shock herself. They were used to Taylor's random outbursts of intelligence, but this seemed different. This seemed more...real.
"Okay, T, let's hear it." Kai said, leaning in.
Not five minutes later, after somewhat organizing her thoughts, Taylor pulls out her white board and explains what was going on in her mind. There’s too much physics for me to understand and to explain, but what she is saying sounds like it makes sense if you understand the logic.
Taylor wiped the board clean, took a deep breath, and began.
"We know that the metro rails are getting more and more packed by the day, right? And we also know that there are only so many trains that can be added to the system before it becomes unsustainable and unsafe, right?" Taylor asked.
Kai and Steph nodded their heads in agreement.
"Well, what if we took to the water?" Taylor continued. "What if we created a water transportation system that connects the cities in South Florida?"
Kai's eyes widened as he leaned back in his chair, while Steph furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"What do you mean, T? Like boats?" Steph asked.
"Yes! But not just any boats. We would create a fleet of electric boats that would transport people between the different cities in South Florida." Taylor explained.
Kai's eyes lit up as he realized the potential of Taylor's idea. "And we could make them autonomous! That way, they could run 24/7 without the need for a human operator."
Steph's face brightened as she finally understood the plan. "And we could make them accessible for everyone, not just those who live near the water. We could create docking stations in the cities, like how we have bus stops and train stations."
Taylor nodded enthusiastically, "Exactly! And the best part is, we wouldn't have to worry about traffic or congestion, and it would be environmentally friendly since the boats would run on electricity."
Kai looked at Taylor with admiration, "T, this is incredible. We have to make this happen."
Taylor smiled, "Now we see how we can make this a reality."
Steph grinned, "Count me in. I'll help with whatever you need."
Kai nodded, "Same here. Let's do this."
And with that, the three of them set off to make this idea reality.
Kai took in her green eyes and messily picked up brown hair, but his heart broke for her, because he knows what this means for her once this idea gets out into the world. And he knows Steph feels the same way too after they both look at each other with the same expression.
— —
Precisely one week after that night, Taylor had a pitch meeting with a bank to see if they could fund her research since she had reached her breakthrough to make the engine work.
“The hydro-engine is a beginning to energy we never thought possible. By combining water and hydrogen through a practical process of nuclear fission we will be able to source clean energy that is truly clean for the first time in history.”
The members present at the meeting looked at her with the same befuddled face anyone would who said that nuclear fission could ever be practical.
“I know what you all must be thinking, because I thought of it too. Until I realized that if I step back and look at this issue from a different perspective…”
Taylor went on to explain her logic behind practical nuclear fission, and even though I don’t understand it, those who were in the meeting do because by the end of that pitch meeting their faces went from perplexed to intrigued and enthusiastic.
“With your help, I could develop a team that could solve the transportation problem that is only facing us now, but that will face the whole world in the foreseeable future.”
The investors were hooked, but they weren’t naive either, so they told her that they would get back to her in the next week regarding their pitch, which is exactly what Taylor was afraid of.
— — —
Two days later, Taylor receives a phone call from the investors saying that they won’t be able to fund her project because they had already had someone with a similar idea who would require less funding. This was her fear come true, that her idea would be leaked and be swept up by some big corporate companies whose purpose is the dollar sign and not helping humanity.
After sharing the news with Steph and Kai, the three of them decided that with funding or no funding they were going to do everything in their power to take this concept/idea live before someone else does.
Over the next few months, Taylor, Kai, and Steph worked relentlessly to bring the idea to life. They spent hours on end researching, meeting with experts, and scraping for funding for the project.
It wasn't easy, but their determination kept them going.
Then finally, after months of hard work, they were ready to unveil their plan to the public.
They called it HydraMove.
HydraMove was a network of electric boats powered by the hydrogen engines that would connect the cities in South Florida, providing a faster and more environmentally friendly mode of transportation for the growing population. The boats would be autonomous and run on electricity, making them sustainable and accessible to everyone.
A well known transportation development program eventually caught wind of the project and, impressed by their vision and determination, decided to fund the project. Taylor was contacted directly by Dr. Vasquez, the head engineer of this program.
“Hey Taylor, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Kai said with a concerned expression.
“I just got an email from Dr. Vasquez. She wants me to present the HydraMove design at the upcoming Climate Change Conference in New York,” Taylor said, her voice shaking with excitement and nervousness.
“That’s amazing, Taylor!” Steph exclaimed. “Your hard work is finally paying off.”
“I know, but I’m also scared. What if the engine doesn’t work as well as I thought it would?” Taylor said, wringing her hands together.
“Don’t worry, Tay. You’ve put in countless hours of research and testing. The HydraMove design is the real deal,” Kai reassured her.
“Thanks, guys. I really appreciate your support,” Taylor said with a smile.
As the day of the conference approached, Taylor was a bundle of nerves. She had practiced her presentation countless times and knew the HydraMove design inside and out, but the thought of presenting in front of hundreds of experts in the field was daunting.
Finally, the day arrived. Taylor took a few deep breaths and walked onto the stage, feeling a rush of adrenaline. She began her presentation, explaining the design and how it could revolutionize the way we power vehicles and machines.
The audience was captivated, nodding along and asking questions. When she finished, there was a round of applause, and Dr. Vasquez soon after stepped forward to congratulate her on the accomplishment.
“Taylor, that was an incredible presentation. Your engine design has the potential to change the world. I would like to offer you a position at the transportation programs engineering labs, where you can continue to work on this project,” Dr. Vasquez said, smiling.
Tears formed in Taylor’s eyes. This was everything she had ever wanted, and more.
“I would love to accept your offer, thank you so much,” Taylor said, ecstatic.
As time went on, Taylor continued to amplify her engine design, improving its efficiency and honing it to perfection with the help of her research team. Her lab became world renowned in the transportation industry, and Taylor was constantly being invited to speak at conferences and events all over the world.
However, despite all the recognition, Taylor always remained humbled, never forgetting her original purpose.
Her purpose in leaving this place is better than she found it.
Her purpose in aiding the survival of her home in South Florida.
And her purpose is being the good of the world, and to set an example for generations to come.
Collection
Citation
Sofi Torrech, “The Good in the Rise,” Everything Speaks To Me , accessed September 18, 2026, https://everythingspeakstome.com/items/show/193.