Darkness Ensures

Chapter I

April 3, 2025

My name is George Nichols, a researcher stationed at the United States Harris Research station. I currently do research as a environmental engineer, hoping to learn how to make Antarctica habitable.

My friend advised me to keep a journal, as it can get quite depressing especially during the dark months. Right now, it's around -44 degrees Fahrenheit here.

The Harris station isn't very far from the South Pole, but it's the most inland station in Antarctica. Originally, I was stationed at the Sandy Ridge station near the Ronne ice shelf.

The Harris station was in need of staff, and I was willing to go on expeditions. Right now, I'm sitting in my dorm. I share it with one other person, the one who told me to keep this journal.

Stephanie Rheban, another researcher here and my roommate. Without Stephanie I'd probably be dead, figuratively of course, but she has been the most helpful person I have met so far.

Stephanie said to me yesterday, "You have to be more assertive; no one takes you seriously."

She has been the only true friend I made here, only because we bunked together. Stephanie is the type of person that likes to speak their mind. She always says what she truly thinks of you, which I appreciate in a person.

It can also get... annoying. She will basically make comments about anything. Just last week she said it looked like I had a bald spot. I didn't actually, my hair was just parted weird, but it was still rude. I almost believed her considered I'm nearing 40. 

It's starting to get dark. Antarctica goes through a 6-month period of daylight during the winter, and a 6-month period of darkness during the summer. Often most of the staff leave during the dark months, I've been selected to stay. Stephanie is in the group leaving. 

It's tiring work. I'm not quite sure why they forced me to come to the south pole, I was content staying near the ice shelf where I could focus on my work. Here there's nothing. No animals, besides microorganisms. Now with Stephanie leaving, I'm sure all I'll see is a bleak, cold, dark, winter.

There's going to be about five people staying at the base. Including me. They've told us stories about how the winter months drive people to suicide. No chance of leaving until September. I don't know if I can do it.

When I got my degree from the University of Washington, I wasn't expecting to live in freaking Antarctica. But it is quite funny when I tell people I go to Antarctica, seeing their shocked expression. To be fair, in school they teach you Antarctica is a barren frozen hell, for the most part that's right.

A lot of people are also shocked when I tell them Antarctica is technically considered a desert, as they only expect sandy places in Africa or Asia. But with the amount of precipitation we get, it's so dry. I can't even remember the last time we got precipitation. It doesn't snow as much as you'd think it would.

April 5th, 2025

The researchers working during the "light-months" are scheduled to leave the 7th of March. Advised to finish up anything they need, and to cut loose ends. Stephanie tells me how excited she is to see her mother. Every time she goes home, her German mother gathers the family and has a nice feast.

Basically, there's a little overlap. My team, aka the "dark month-ers" arrive in mid-March, and the "light-month-ers" - Stephanie's team - leave in early April. 

Even though me and Stephanie have only been roommates for a few weeks, we've grown to be good friends. Which makes it harder for me to see here leave.

Hopefully one day I'll be able to join her. I'm not on good ends with my parents. My mother is from America, and my father who is from France passed away a few years ago. She was an absolute mess. After her first suicide attempt, we had to put her into a psychiatric ward.