The Two of Us

The Last Night

'Do you think they will ever come back?'

'I hope not.' said Sarah, looking at the starry sky. She was referring to the ones that left Earth 20 years ago during the Apocalypse. She and Scott were the only ones who survived it. They met a few years after that. They were even able to communicate with their Spaceship, but they refused to come back just for two people. Why would they? These nobles abandoned whole humanity during the Apocalypse to settle down on another planet and start over, what's wrong with two more?

'Do we deserve a second chance? Us humans?' asked Scott.

'I know that we do, so does Hope.'

She sighed. Her once beautiful face was now wrinkled. Old age was catching up with her. They found out 7 months ago that she was diagnosed with a fatal disease, she was dying.

'I'll miss you.' said Scott.

'I know.'

'What will you tell her about her mother?' she asked after a long silence.

'Oh, I'll tell her she was a Hollywood Star, hot and beautiful.'

'So you'll make me a star?'

'Well it sounds better than an annoying old woman.' She smiled. Scott held her hand gently, 'No, I'll tell her that her mother was a wonderful woman, that she was my strength, my hope and I love her so much.' He and Sarah were trying to create an artificial womb for the last 14 years, after 7 failed attempts there was hope this time. It has been 5 months since the egg was fertilized and the baby-girl was healthy. Sarah had named her Hope.

Sarah looked at Scott, she was happy to see the man he has become. He was 39, but she can still picturize the 21 year old boy that he was when they first met. She was 32 then. She remembered how happy they were when they met, the last two survivors. They decided to begin again, have a family. But before that could happen, Sarah became sick. So when they found out about Hope, she was the happiest because she knew that Scott won't be alone after she is gone.

'You know I'll come back to you, as Hope. That way you'll never lose me.'

'Hmm...' he sighed.

'Don't worry, it will be okay.' she patted him on his back.

They sat there for a while, watching the night sky. It was something they often did. There was no human sound, just the voice of insects, nocturnal birds, wind, just the sound of nature. Though they missed being with people or being a part of a society, they were happy to see Mother Nature thrive again.

'I should probably go to sleep now.'

'Let me help you.' Scott walked Sarah to her bed and helped her lie down.

'Good Night.'

'Good Night, Scott.'

Good Night, Hope. And she drifted off to her final sleep.