Author : Roi R. Czechvala, Staff Writer

I had heard the news only a short few minutes ago. I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it.

I walked out the back door onto the deck and looked up and down the beach. Like mine, all the other houses were darkened as well. Like that would make one bit of difference with today’s tech. I barked a bitter laugh.

Michelle must have heard. Silently she slid up beside me, slipping her hand in mine. She always looked so beautiful. Her flaming red hair framing her delicate features. Just the right number of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

Now her face looked gaunt as if all the joy that only moments ago had filled it, had washed away.

“Do you think it’s true?” Her voice was a dry. The sound of autumn leaves rustling in the wind.

“It’s true. Come with me.”

I tugged her hand and led her down to the waters edge. She walked beside me as if she were lost, falling.

“Remember our honeymoon?”

“Yes,” she said. Her voice had taken on an airy, detached quality. “It was my first trip to orbit. It was so beautiful. The gardens, the trees, that quiet little beach on the lake. It was so lovely there. I wish we could go back.”

“Someday.” I said. “When this is over. Look, you can see them now.” The warm twilight was slipping away, and impenetrable night was bearing down. Above us against the distant stars, the sparkle of the L-5 habitats shone in a glistening, shimmering arc.

“Look there,” I said, pointing to one twinkling jewel in particular. “There it is. That’s Eden. Our little garden”

And we watched those precious jewels. We watched them as one by one, each glowed a little brighter, before winking out forever.