Seven

Chapter 4

As I was waiting for Ninety nine to come, the leader of our station appeared on the big screen on the wall. "Good afternoon residents of the spaceship Ten. As you may know, tomorrow we're celebrating our 50 year anniversary of being in space. For the following day, we'll hold a ceremony in the main cafeteria. I wish a lot of you could join us on this beautiful day. And as you know, you all have a day off tomorrow. This is all, goodbye." And the screen turned off. 

I forgot about the anniversary to be honest. How could I even think about something like this if I have nightmares almost every night... At least I'm going to spend the day with my parents. 

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't realise Ninety nine standing in front of me, "Forty are you here?" I slightly jumped and held my heart, "You startled me!" She chuckled and mumbled sorry. 

"Change of plans, we're heading to my apartment. Is that okay with you?" I nodded and got up. We were walking towards her appartment in a faster pace than I would usually walk. "What's the rush?" She turned to me, but continued to walk. "I wish to talk about this in private." 

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She placed my cup of coffee on the little table she had in her small living room. Her living room was full of books. "Wow you have quite a collection here I see." 

She chuckled, "I'm a librarian for a reason. I mostly took the books I love from Earth." 

"Interesting. Mind if I check them?" I really love reading. There's something about the characters that draws me to them. "No, go ahead." 

My fingers danced on the cover of the book, very old book. The cover itself was black, but on the spine of the book was written a title and a writer. Julian Barnes. Hm, I don't think I've heard about him before. The Sense of an Ending. Something was telling me to read that book. I've opened the front page and the smell of the old book attracted me. It reminded me of a Door 35. Behind that door were a lot of trees. First they thought we won't be able to grow trees on this spaceship. 

I was there once, when I was 10, I think. The smell of nature, the breeze that danced around me... It was unforgettable. 

I snapped out of my thoughts and I have opened the book on that page where it is written for whom the book is for. For Pat it said. I wonder when and how she died. It had to be a long time ago. She had to mean a lot to this writer...

"It's a good book. I could lend it to you, of course if you'd like?" She asked me. 

"I would like to, thank you." I smiled at her. She patted the space next to her on the sofa. "Come. Sit."

We've sat in silence for quite some time. It wasn't that awkward silence, it was rather comfortable. "It all started when..."

*Monica's memory* 3rd POV.:

"Happy birthday to you, happy bithday to you, happy birthday dear Monica, happy birthday to you!" Everyone was singing to her for she turned 50. "Make a wish aunt!" Her 10 year old nephew told her. She closed her eyes and took a moment to think about how happy she is to have so many people in her life that care about her. She opened her eyes and blew out the candles. "Yay!" Everyone started cheering and the picnic started. She didn't want a big party, only a picnic in her backyard with the people she cares.

The picnic was in a full swing, people were chatting with each other, children were playing in the backyard and Monica was in her kitchen preparing ingredients for BBQ. The television was on and she was watching the news. Strange things were happening this whole year. People in the big cities were already wearing oxygen masks, the ice has already melted. Noone saw the snow in 10 years. Everything was falling apart. 

Monica heard the front door being opened and soon she felt someone hug her from behind. "Happy birthday honey." Her husband whispered and kissed her head. They were inseparable. Been together since they were 15, and were now married for 25 years. Monica turned around, still in his arms, and pecked him on the lips. "Thank you dear. How was work?" He pulled his arms from her and went on the other side of the kitchen. "It was like every other day for the past 5 years." They both were scientists, although Monica was voluntarily working as a librarian. She sighed. "Will this ever end?" 

Soon they were eating her husbands BBQ. "...and then Mrs Doyle said that I'm one of her best children in the classroom!" They were listening to her niece, Alice. "That's very good Alice! I used to paint too when I was little." Her eyes smiled when Alice smiled. Soon everyone were chatting among themselves, when all of a sudden Monica's phone rang. "Excuse me," she said and went in the kitchen. 

"Monica...I know it's your bithday and you have a week off, but I wouldn't call you if it wasn't urgent. Can you please come to the facility? We need you."  She sighed and looked at her friends and family having fun. Her husband looked at her through the doors and already knew what was going on. He smiled, his smile not reaching his ears, and nodded. "I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Excuse me," he said to their guests and went to the kitchen to her. "I saw your face, go if you have to go. It's important." She smiled and put both of her hands on either side of his face, "I love you so much, you know that right?"  They both shared the kiss, but little did they know it will be their last. 

Suddenly the ground started shaking, Monica's eyes went wide, "What's going on?!"  Monica and her husband went outside, "Everybody please remain calm!"  A plane was crashing, and everyone turned their heads towards the plane. It was flying near the ground, almost touching their house, but it crashed near them. But they didn't expect what happened next.