SHORT STORY: EARTH AND MOON

Night.

Twinkling stars filled the endless space and silence reigned over all. A green-blue ring of light illuminated the distant Earth. In the dark center of the world, pockets of light shown like so many stars set on the Earth's face, forming constellations all their own. They sparkled, clear and white, with a steady constancy unrivaled by the real stars that surrounded them. In contrast, occasional flashes of red and orange flared on the Earth and, though no sounds could be heard, the Moon could see the quaver in the surrounding space from the shock.

Countless revolutions of the stars and planets had elapsed since the last time the Earth and the Moon had conversed. The Moon didn't know why. No anger raged within, no spite or malice, but still there must have been a reason. Perhaps, once long ago, the Moon had been angry, or the Earth. Perhaps they'd argued, perhaps not. The Moon couldn't remember. Not now, anyways, not after so long a time.

Another batch of the red and orange lights flared into life near the Earth's horizon and the green-blue edge disappeared, out shown by the flare and then held dim by a resultant haze and smoke.

Earth, The Moon thought, Would you answer if I asked, would you tell me the cause of your suffering? Could I help you?

Once, long before any of the freckled lights danced on the Earth's benighted surface, back when they had spoken often and openly, the Moon loved the Earth, loved watching the Earth as she moved through her revolutions. The Moon couldn't remember if the Earth knew, or reciprocated. The Moon didn't feel so now anyway and so found it hard to feel regret over the loss. But still, back in those days, when they were not so old, they had spoken and shared in the joys of watching life grow and spread.

Did I become jealous? The Moon thought as another powerful red light blossomed in another section of the Earth. Was that what pushed us apart? That the Earth had life, and I was barren?

Perhaps the Moon still had feelings for the Earth, it was hard to tell what was real and what was imagined fantasy when it came to such things anymore.

Sunrise wasn't far away. Just a few brief moment, really, and the Moon would have to wait another revolution for the Earth's stars to be visible again. But the Moon could not complain. The Earth was beautiful in the daylight as well, though in more recent revolutions, the Earth in the daylight had lost much of its former beauty. The green had grown brown. The blue had turned gray. And all had become hard to see clearly, as though masked by a thin yet constant cloud.

So long ago, they two had watched with excitement as life began on Earth. Then life on land. Then intelligent life. Man. That was when the troubles between the Earth and the Moon had begun. Something about Man had driven them apart, and still the Moon could not remember exactly what or why.

Perhaps I'll ask what's happening, The Moon thought, And the Earth may just answer like in times past. The Moon mused over this while the Sun rose above the Earth's horizon and the Moon continued on in its own prescribed path.

The Earth was harder to make out than usual this day. The surface was impossible to see in some places through the thick smoke that had replaced the clouds. A few flashes of red and orange still shown in the sunlight but not so much as the night before.

The Moon looked away into the blackness of space and surveyed the other planets and stars. It was frustrating, not knowing what was happening on the Earth when she was so close to the Moon. The other planets and stars were much too far away to speak with, and yet the Moon now knew just as much about what was going on with them as it did about the Earth.

Night came again on the Earth and the Moon stared eagerly at her, looking for the little lights she wore like stars. But they weren't there. A few places glowed with the red and orange of fires, something the Earth had first experienced and explained to the Moon long before Men. The Moon continued to search, looking over the surface of the Earth as she revolved and still no sign of the little stars.

Earth, The Moon finally called out, surprised at how easy it was even after all this time, What's happened?

The Moon waited, hoping the Earth would respond. She continued to turn, to pass on as the Moon watched, but she said nothing.

Earth? The Moon ventured again, Please, are you well?

Night continued on.

Hello Moon, The Earth said at last, her voice feeble, old, and full of sorrow.

Earth! The Moon exclaimed as fresh emotions flooded into him at hearing the Earths voice. What's happened?

How have you been, Moon? The Earth asked, ignoring the Moon's question.

Lonely, The Moon admitted without meaning to. But how are you? The lights—

It's nothing, The Earth cut the Moon off.

I liked your little stars, The Moon said, hopeful, Will they be back?

The Earth was quiet for a time. Night was nearly ended when she responded.

No, The Earth said, No, I don't think they will, She gave out a mournful sigh that made the Moon feel as though weeping were the only suitable response to such a sound.

Pity, The Moon said instead.

The Earth said no more and the Moon followed her lead. Just as the Earth had guessed, the lights did not return. After a time, the haze surrounding the Earth cleared and the Moon was able to see her with sharpness once more. And though they never spoke, it seemed to the Moon that the Earth was trying a little harder than before to show off the new forms of life growing on her.

They continued on this way even as the Sun grew red and began to swell. The Moon secretly hoped the entire time that the little lights would return some day, but they didn't. At last, the day came when life on the Earth all ended, the Sun had grown old and expanded too far, too close to the Earth for the life she harbored to continue.

The Sun kept growing and it was only a matter of a few more revolutions before they would be absorbed into the Sun. As the Sun grew closer, heralding their end, the Moon hoped that the Earth would say something, anything, just one last time. As the heat began to consume them, the Moon thought it heard the Earth give a sigh and he couldn't help but recall that day so long ago when her stars had gone out and she had sighed, so full of weeping.

Earth! The Moon cried out, not wanting his only companion through the ages to find her end in so piteous a state.

Oh Moon, She said, I thought you'd forgotten about me.

How could I? The Moon asked, pieces of its surface melting away. You are always right in front of me.

I am sorry my friend, The Earth said as her crust began to melt away exposing her throbbing core. It happened once before.

The Moon lacked the strength to say any more as the Sun enveloped them both. But before the very end of it all, he heard his companions plaintive voice, one last time.

My children.

They wept together and were no more.