The Last Day

I woke up to the sound of sirens and screams. I checked my phone and saw the news: a giant asteroid was heading towards Earth, and there was no way to stop it. The impact was expected in 24 hours. The world was in chaos.

I didn't know what to do. I had no family, no friends, no one to say goodbye to. I had spent my life working as a journalist, chasing stories and deadlines, but never finding happiness or meaning. I had always wanted to travel, to see the world, to fall in love, to write a novel, to do something that mattered. But I never did. I wasted my time on trivial things, and now it was too late.

I decided to go out and see the city for the last time. I grabbed my backpack and my camera, and headed to the street. The scene was surreal. People were running, looting, rioting, praying, crying, laughing, hugging, kissing, or just standing still, staring at the sky. Some were trying to escape, some were trying to help, some were trying to harm. I saw fear, anger, sadness, joy, despair, hope, and everything in between.

I walked around, taking pictures and recording videos. I wanted to document the end of the world, to leave a trace of what happened, to tell a story that no one would ever read or watch. I didn't know why I did it, maybe it was a habit, maybe it was a way to cope, maybe it was a way to feel alive.

I saw a lot of things that day. I saw a man jump off a bridge, I saw a woman give birth in a car, I saw a child play with a dog, I saw a couple get married in a park, I saw a group of musicians perform in a square, I saw a priest bless a crowd in a church, I saw a soldier shoot a looter, I saw a doctor save a patient, I saw a teacher read a book to a class, I saw a painter paint a mural, I saw a chef cook a meal, I saw a homeless man share a sandwich, I saw a billionaire burn his money, I saw a celebrity sign autographs, I saw a politician apologize, I saw a scientist explain, I saw a poet recite, I saw a dancer dance, I saw a singer sing, I saw a lover love, I saw a human be.

I also saw something else. I saw a girl. She was sitting on a bench, reading a book. She had long brown hair, green eyes, and a smile that lit up her face. She looked calm, peaceful, and beautiful. She looked like she didn't care about the asteroid, or the chaos, or the doom. She looked like she was happy.

I was drawn to her. I wanted to talk to her, to know her, to be with her. I wanted to spend my last hours with her. I wanted to tell her that I loved her, even though I didn't know her. I wanted to make her smile, even though the world was ending.

I approached her, and said hello. She looked up, and said hello back. She had a soft voice, and a gentle accent. She asked me what I was doing. I told her I was a journalist, and I was documenting the end of the world. She asked me why. I told her I didn't know.

She smiled, and said she was a writer, and she was reading her favorite book. She said it was a story about a man who travels around the world, looking for adventure, but never finding happiness. She said it was a sad story, but a beautiful one. She said she loved it.

She asked me if I wanted to join her. I said yes. She moved over, and made room for me on the bench. She handed me the book, and told me to read. I opened the book, and read the first line:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

We read together, until the sun set, and the stars came out. We read, until the asteroid hit, and the world ended. We read, until we died.

We died, but we lived.