Jonathan Ford

The Encounter

The summer of 2025 brought an unusual heat to the small desert town of Azura. For brothers Eric and Daniel Mercer, it was supposed to be another routine night of stargazing—a tradition their late father had started years ago. Armed with a telescope, snacks, and their dad’s old astronomy journal, they set up camp in the backyard. The familiar hum of cicadas filled the air, grounding them in the ordinary.