The last sunrise

The last sunrise had arrived, and with it, the culmination of an era. The world stood at the brink of an inevitable end, yet the morning light remained as serene and beautiful as ever.

Elara sat on the edge of the crumbling stone wall, her gaze fixed on the horizon. She had always been an early riser, someone who cherished the quiet hours of dawn. Today, however, there was no peaceful anticipation of a new day—only a solemn acknowledgment that this would be the last.

The news had spread across the globe like wildfire. Scientists had confirmed it: a rogue planet, unseen until it was too late, was on a collision course with Earth. There was no escape, no bunker deep enough, no technology advanced enough to save them. Humanity had exhausted every option. Some clung to religion, seeking solace in prayer, while others descended into chaos, looting and rioting in their final days. Elara, however, chose neither. She chose to sit and watch the last sunrise.

Beside her, Jonah exhaled softly, his breath curling into the crisp morning air. “It’s almost ironic, isn’t it?” he mused. “The world is ending, and yet, the sun still rises like nothing’s changed.”

Elara smiled faintly but said nothing. There was no need for words now. They had spent the last few days reminiscing about their childhood, their adventures, their dreams—dreams that would never come to fruition. They had laughed, cried, and sat in silence together, embracing the inevitable with quiet acceptance.

Jonah reached for her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. “Are you scared?” he asked.

She thought about it. Fear had been a companion in the beginning, gnawing at her insides, making every heartbeat feel like a countdown. But now? Now, there was only a strange sense of peace. “No,” she whispered. “Not anymore.”

The sun climbed higher, setting the sky ablaze with brilliance. It reflected off the rooftops of the abandoned city below, casting long, golden shadows. Birds still soared through the sky, oblivious to their impending doom. The world was ending, and yet, in this moment, it was more alive than ever.

Elara squeezed Jonah’s hand. “Do you think… if there’s something beyond this, we’ll find each other again?”

Jonah turned to her, his dark eyes filled with warmth. “I think so,” he said. “If love can survive time and distance, why not the end of the world?”

She nodded, finding comfort in the thought. The air carried a whisper of the sea, mingling with the scent of earth and morning dew. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked—a lonely, defiant sound against the silence that had overtaken most of the world.

Time felt irrelevant now. The minutes slipped by, unnoticed, as the sun continued its ascent. Elara closed her eyes, memorizing the warmth on her skin, the gentle caress of the breeze, the rhythmic rise and fall of Jonah’s breathing beside her.

A deep rumble echoed across the sky, distant yet unmistakable. It was beginning. The rogue planet, now visible even in daylight, loomed like a monstrous wound in the heavens. The air vibrated with an eerie energy, a silent countdown to the inevitable.

Jonah pulled her close, his arms encircling her in a fierce embrace. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For everything.”

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she refused to cry. Not now. Not when there was still beauty to behold. “I’ll see you on the other side,” she whispered against his shoulder.

The ground trembled beneath them as the sky ignited in a final burst of light. The last sunrise had reached its peak, bathing the world in an ethereal glow. And as the universe reclaimed what it had given, Elara and Jonah held onto each other, watching the end of the world with nothing but love in their hearts.