So This is How it Ends
by Beau Cameron
Marcella leans against the window, staring out into the void. The ship’s engines whir in her ears, a silent buzz in the background of life. Outside, she can see the Earth in all its dry, cracked, wretched glory. History and story books say that Earth used to be covered in lush green trees and bubbling blue oceans. Some say that it used to 70% water. She can’t even imagine what that would be like.
The Earth she knows is metal spires and cracked dirt, dust coating every surface and person. She had lived there until she was a teenager, before running off to join the academy. She had grown accustomed to the view of Earth from afar.
It would be sad to see it go.
“So this is where you wandered off to.”
Marcella turns, grinning as Dee’s lips find hers. The kiss lasts barely a moment before she pulls away, staring fondly into her wife’s eyes. “It was getting a bit crowded.”
Dee loops her arms around Marcella’s waist, resting her chin lazily on her wife’s shoulder. “Don’t you want to watch with the viewing party?”
“Not really. It’s just--” she struggles to find the words-- “This shouldn’t be a happy time.”
“It’s different for them. They never lived on Earth.”
“Neither did you.”
“True,” Dee hums. “But I know how much you care about it.”
Outside, the sun inches ever closer to the planet. Fire arcs through the sky, tangling around the atmosphere before crashing to the ground. Impossible as it is, if she listens close enough, Marcella thinks she can hear the planet burning.
“It feels like I’m losing something precious.” Marcella’s voice is barely a whisper, but it’s enough for Dee.
She tightens her grip. “It’ll be okay.”
Faintly, they can hear the party counting down: 4, 3, 2, 1. Applause erupts as the Earth is swallowed by the Sun’s fire, disintegrating slowly from within the dying star.
Wrapped in each other’s arms, Marcella and Dee watch on, silent.
The Earth she knows is metal spires and cracked dirt, dust coating every surface and person. She had lived there until she was a teenager, before running off to join the academy. She had grown accustomed to the view of Earth from afar.
It would be sad to see it go.
“So this is where you wandered off to.”
Marcella turns, grinning as Dee’s lips find hers. The kiss lasts barely a moment before she pulls away, staring fondly into her wife’s eyes. “It was getting a bit crowded.”
Dee loops her arms around Marcella’s waist, resting her chin lazily on her wife’s shoulder. “Don’t you want to watch with the viewing party?”
“Not really. It’s just--” she struggles to find the words-- “This shouldn’t be a happy time.”
“It’s different for them. They never lived on Earth.”
“Neither did you.”
“True,” Dee hums. “But I know how much you care about it.”
Outside, the sun inches ever closer to the planet. Fire arcs through the sky, tangling around the atmosphere before crashing to the ground. Impossible as it is, if she listens close enough, Marcella thinks she can hear the planet burning.
“It feels like I’m losing something precious.” Marcella’s voice is barely a whisper, but it’s enough for Dee.
She tightens her grip. “It’ll be okay.”
Faintly, they can hear the party counting down: 4, 3, 2, 1. Applause erupts as the Earth is swallowed by the Sun’s fire, disintegrating slowly from within the dying star.
Wrapped in each other’s arms, Marcella and Dee watch on, silent.