366: One Story Per Day (2024)

Day 59 - Beyond the Horizon

     The world held its breath as the news spread like wildfire: four brave astronauts had landed on the moon, marking a memorable feat in human history. The entire world watched in awe as the photographs were broadcast live from the lunar surface, capturing the majestic grandeur of the barren environment and the tenacious spirit of exploration.

     However, as the yells and celebrations rang throughout the world, a dark cloud settled over the jubilation, reminding us of the fragility of life and the unpredictability of the future. An asteroid that had previously gone unseen by astronomers hit Earth, causing catastrophic havoc. Cities collapsed, oceans boiled, and the very fabric of civilization was ripped apart in the blink of an eye.

     Amid the chaos and despair, the astronauts on the Moon watched in terror as the Earth they had left behind devolved into chaos. They were secure for the time being, hidden from the horrific events occurring below, but they soon realized they weren't out of the woods yet.

     For even as they marveled at the wonder of the cosmos and the infinite possibilities that lay before them, a nagging fear gnawed at the edges of their consciousness—a fear that their oxygen supply would not last forever, that they were stranded in the vast expanse of space with no way home.

     They initially tried to ignore their worries and focused instead on the task at hand—exploring the Moon, conducting experiments, and collecting samples they were supposed to bring back home to Earth. However, the grim reality of their situation became clear.

     Their oxygen levels were dropping since fear consumes more air. They had no way of knowing if somebody else on Earth survived, or if they would ever be rescued from their isolated position on the lunar surface.

     It was a sobering discovery, one that placed a fog over their once brilliant ambitions and dreams. Despite difficulties, the astronauts remained hopeful. They spent the rest of their time together, gaining strength from one another and the bond that had grown between them.

     They rationed their supplies, preserving every precious drop of water and gasp of oxygen. They worked diligently to find a solution, to discover a means to stretch their limited resources and squeeze out every last ounce of survival.

     And as they gazed out into the vastness of space, they found solace in the beauty of the universe, in the majesty of the stars that twinkled like diamonds in the velvet night sky. Even in their darkest moments, they knew they were a part of something bigger, a cosmos that stretched out before them in all its endless splendor.

     But way before they ran out of oxygen, the astronauts saw debris hurdling towards them. They immediately knew that they didn't have to suffer long enough to go insane on the surface of the Moon.

     A fragment of what they once called home has come to rescue the astronauts, not for them to live, but to end the suffering they don't have to endure anymore.