10

Silent Lovers

I lay down in my bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about yesterday. The last people alive, think about that. The human race depends on us. I shudder and pull the covers up. How in the world are we supposed to find a planet to inhabit? My alarm clock blares in my ear, and I am forced to drag myself out of bed.

I slip on a robe over my pajamas and slide my feet into my bunny slippers, I’ve always liked my bunny slippers, the ship is always so cold but they keep me warm.

I walk up to the door and it groans as it opens, like it doesn’t want to be awake either. The ship is still dark, that’s unusual, there hasn’t been a day yet when Nick hasn’t been up before me. I grab two coffee packets from the machine and pour them them into two mugs along with some water. Nick’s room is just down the hall from mine, he’s always preferred that side of the ship. I rap on his door and whisper, “Knock, knock.”

All I get in response is a loud groan. I slide open the door and light floods the room. Nick is still in his bed, and he rolls over when I open the door. “Turn off the light, Ari,” Nick groans.

“Well, you sure are pleasant this morning,” I retort. “I brought you coffee.” He rolls over as I put the mug on his bedside table. I sit down on the edge of his bed and brush the hair out of his face.

“Thanks,” He sits up and takes takes a sip from his coffee mug.

“Rough night?” I rest my head on his shoulder. Nick has always been taller than me, next to him I look like a mouse.

“Yeah, it’s daunting, the idea that the human race rests on our shoulders.” He sighs.

“What are we supposed to do? I mean, it seemed achievable when there were 10 of us, but 2, I mean what did NASA expect?”

“Well, they definitely didn’t expect an asteroid to come and kill basically all the crew” Nick chuckled. “Thanks, Ari, I needed this.” He leans his head against mine.

“No problem, after all, we need to look after each other.” I stand up and lean down to give him a hug, he hugs me back. “I’m going to go out to the viewing pier, want to come?”

“I’ll be there in a little bit, you go ahead.”

 

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SHMS NaNoWriMo Anthology 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Lauren Mildahl. All Rights Reserved.

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