The Last Sunrise
Here is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction. You can view all the 100-200 word stories by clicking on the blue froggy, and why not have a go yourself?
Simon and Shelley sat hand in hand on the hill top, looking out at the rapidly brightening sky.
“Is it true, do you think?” asked Shelley quietly, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face.
“All contact with Australia was lost hours ago. Russia. Eastern Europe. All going quiet, one by one.”
“Maybe there’s some other explanation?”
Simon squeezed her hand. “It’s still half an hour to sunrise,” he said sombrely. “See how light the sky is already.”
Shelley nestled her head against him. He put his arm around her shoulders.
“Of all the scenarios we’ve seen in the movies – floods, global warming, alien invasion, even zombies – why did nobody mention this?” asked Shelley, sobbing.
“Maybe someone did,” replied Simon, eyes glistening with his own tears. “Maybe we didn’t see that film.” He hugged her closer.
“It’ll be one hell of a sunrise, though,” said Shelley.
Simon nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
They were still sitting, holding each other tight when the sun rose. Once the bringer of life, it had turned on its children. The most titanic solar firestorm in Earth’s history accompanied the sunrise this morning, burning the planet clean.
I like this one 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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This reminds of a book I read once, The Forge of God. The feeling you put into this was awesome. You could feel their pain, the impending doom. A great story
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Thanks! I just checked out that book – the author’s described as a master of “doomsday sci-fi” – sounds right up my street.
I’m glad you enjoyed my story.
Is it you who runs the Sunday Fiction, and if so do you take all the photos yourself? I’d like to give proper credit in future.
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Yes it is, and yes I do 🙂 If you like that book, there is a follow up to it – Anvil of Stars.
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Cool, thanks!
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Wow. This reminds me of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, “The Midnight Sun”, only much more destructive (in a good way).
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I can take any good story and turn it into an apocalypse, it’s my thing 🙂
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You’re killing everyone again, lol But such a well written end 😉
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I thought why knock people off one at a time when I can do whole planets 🙂
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And if not that, there’s always getting hit by an asteroid. You write so well you give me chills.
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Thank you!
Asteroids are good for global destruction too 🙂
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Well written. Voices and plot believable.
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Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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Loved it. Nice build up to the conclusion.
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I didn’t want to give the game away too soon, just kept dropping hints.
Thanks!
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I’ll bring my sunglasses to work tonight, just in case……
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Good idea. It would be a shame if you went blind seconds before getting crisped 🙂
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Who wouldn’t want to get to see their own demise?
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Another great story. Just so well written.
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Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Chilling indeed, I was dying to find out what was going on 🙂
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I was trying to build the suspense while not revealing exactly what was happening until the last moment 🙂
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