He woke up and realized it was morning. The checked his alarm clock. It was still early, two more hours before the intended time he wished to wake up. He contemplated for awhile on whether he should just get up from bed or continue having his sweet dream. For minutes, he laid on his bed thinking about the bleak future, the future that promised nothing but darkness.
There is nothing more to dream, he said to himself. I want to get up and savor these last moments of mine, he said in his mind.
Wearing nothing, he felt the coldness of living in the Underground. So, he took his favorite blanket to provide the warmth that he needed.
“Cold”, he said. “I should check the internet for the latest news.”
So, he went to his desk and sat in front of his computer. A flat screen with a powerful processor, he had what a boy could only dream of.
“Computer – 2D mode.”
The computer switched on, initiating its operating system quietly. The screen flashed a red light and then suddenly the light that came out from the liquid crystal screen changed from red to something brighter. He covered his eyes, trying to help his retina to adjust accordingly to the lights.
“Welcome Sir. Today is the-”
“Zero volume please”, he interrupted Gaia.
He saw a dark wallpaper on his LCD. It was one of his favorite backgrounds for his computer desktop. His desktop was highly customized but today’s wallpaper provides an ironic meaning. He sighed and touched the Netscape Version 21.1icon near the bottom of the LCD and the Reuters’ website came alive.
The latest reports were already in. Some of the latest headlines told him that the Moslems and the Israelis had finally learned to live peacefully side by side. He smiled at himself, realizing that Human did want peace but considering the current situation, all were nothing but too late. Another headlines read “Jesus Failed to Come to Expectation”.
Another false savior killed by the Book people, he said without pronouncing anything. He turned his head to the clock. It was 0630 hours. He opened up his diary and in it, written meet Tanya.
He stood up and went to washroom to take up his ablutions.
“A few more days if the calculation is correct.”
“Hi there!”
“Tanya, how are you today?” he asked.
“Well, with a few more hours to go, I don’t know exactly how I feel”.
He observed her. He could see in her eyes that she was scared. He was scared too but he tried to be brave. Everybody felt the same way too, whether one was a president of the greatest block or the bagger in the smelly sewer system. “I know what you mean. Where are you heading to?”
“I’m going upstairs to watch the stars. They say that with the current development, we could see Jupiter as brighter than ever”.
Yes, somehow, the Jupiter’s inept gases are being ionized, making it to produce a bit of light. Actually, I’m interested to see it too. May I join you?”
“I will be more than glad”, Tanya replied with a smile.
She is beautiful but why am I holding this feeling. Those words were audible in his head. Nevertheless, this feeling will matter not anymore. It’s too late but yet, what do I have to lose if I express it?
“I still remember the days when at night, the temperature was not as hot as right now. I wish those days will be will be a reality for those who chose to live on. I really do.”
“Why didn’t you choose to go with Hope? You were given the chance but yet, you refused it. Most people would kill for a place in that ship.”
“I don’t know. Maybe I am just tired living this life. And you, what is your reason?” she asked him back with a softer tone.
“I… I have nothing more to fight for. This Earth is my home and I want to stay with her. I will never abandon her. I fight for her all my life and now, the end is almost here. I can’t abandon her after years of work. If I must fall with her, I will”.
He scoured the night sky for Jupiter. Indeed, Jupiter had become the second brightest celestial object in the night sky. “Do you still remember Orion? They say that it was the most recognizable constellations throughout Human history”.
He checked his PDA, twenty more seconds.
“Yes. Things changed after million of years. But that part of the sky was called the Orionides. Betelgeuse was there, before it went-”
“I love you Tanya”, he cut Tanya short. Tanya was shocked but then all was too late. All ceased to exist, at least in the Solar system.
