The End of Light

As the age of visible light faded into darkness, the void was cold and lifeless. The last star had given everything of itself, and just like all before it, we were nearing the end of the heat. Our final sanctuary was in the pangs of death.

We gathered around it trying to capture what was left. Anything we could use. Nothing else mattered. Those who were old enough to understand what was next tried to be strong. They tried to put on a brave face, but even the best started to break down. I just knew that I was cold.

I had never felt cold before. One by one, all the machines started to go dark. There was no water, and no power to heat it. They kept telling us to stay calm. They told us to think about the good things that made us happy, maybe our favorite songs or our favorite food. I tried to remember the woman who would hold me. She would sing to me. I can still see her face and I remember her heat. She was so warm. She made me feel safe. She gave me this locket. She said it was her heart. Sometimes I open it and I see her. She’s kissing a baby and the baby is happy.

The waves started next. You could watch them move through the room. Everything would bend. Even me. It didn’t hurt, but it was like we were being stretched. Time slowed down for a second or two, and the fabric warped. They said it was from the star spinning. The waves were coming faster and faster now.

I knew it was time to get away, but we weren’t moving. I asked when we would go to sleep. I asked when we would wake up and see our new home. They told me to think about the happy things. The waves are starting to hurt and its colder now.

I’ve always known about the higher beings. I used to talk to them and they would talk to me. Sometimes you can see them. Then they turn bright and disappear. Some people can’t see them. Teacher said they were always there and always would be. They live in the light. Maybe they are the light. They told me that they don’t need time or space. They just say they live in four, and I live in three. I don’t understand. I wish they were here.

I can see my bones. After the waves, I can see my bones! I never knew I had so many bones. Is that how my foot works? They glow bright and it makes me happy. Then it goes away and I can’t see them anymore. So many strange things. Teacher gave me a heavy blanket. I scratched my head and a lot of my hair came off in my hand. I have so many hairs! I throw it at teacher and I laugh.

Teacher is coughing. Then its quiet. We are all quiet. Dark and cold. The room is squeezed and stretched and I can’t think. Then it goes away. My locket shakes and gets hot for a second, then it stops. I wish the locket was bigger. Then maybe I wouldn’t be cold.

Teacher says we should go to sleep. Teacher says we will wake up and eat a big breakfast. Teacher says they will fix the heat while we sleep. Teacher says he loves us. The beings are here now, but only I see them. They say they are leaving, but they say I can’t go with them because I don’t know how to turn into light. They smile at me and tell me to go to sleep.

I lay down and hold my locket. It will be hard to sleep with the waves. Maybe if I think of her and her heat. I drift away and dream of the good things. She holds me and sings to me.

The explosion and collapse of the last known White Dwarf LH5429 still ripples through space and time. The void is cold and dark. The age of visible light and the realm of three-dimensional life has come to an end. Yet even in this cosmic dark age, the timeline of the universe has only just begun.