The sky looks beautiful, actually. Pinkish. Bluish. Clouds waved and bobbed. The dear old sun will set soon. One, final stretch across the heavens. Helios! The God of Sun! Are you there? Do you witness what happens now here on this earth?

I close my eyes. I cannot bear to watch the sky. Too beautiful to end, isn't it?

The sound of car horns honking for whatever reasons. The smell of fumes from burned tires. I can hear loud cries, shouts of an impatient man next door. Children. Young children, cannot be more than 4-5 years old, run in response to the shouts. I can imagine fear grips them as their tears roll down their fat pink cheeks. Children who will never see adulthood. Children, who will never find the love of their life. Children, who will never celebrate their next birthday!

24 hours.

A day and a night is all they have.

Only fools, like the family next door, think they will have enough time.

Time is their friend. Used to be. And now, their greatest enemy. You cannot run fast enough. No, you cannot.

We are fighting against something, much, much beyond your control.

Governments with plans so grandeur it will make them seem like God. Nuclear weapons? Nope, did not work. Suicide rocket mission? A huge disappointment.That rocket exploded, way before it even reached the...

Ahh...stop crying, you fool! I cursed myself.

"Mama, are you scared?"a soft, quivering voice. My daughter.

I quickly brushed off the wetness on my cheeks. Desperately trying to be brave. But no, I cannot find bravery.

"Yes, Melody. Mama is really scared..."

"Is it going to be painful, Mama?"

I choked. I coughed. Painful. How do I know? I just hope it'll be fast. Fast and that's it. Over and done with

"I...maybe...I don't know, sweetheart..."

"Maura and her family next door are moving into a bunker underground. The government said they have 50% chance of survival. They paid a lot of money for it..." whispered Melody.

Money that I really cannot afford!

"You will be with me, right, Mama?" Melody looks to the far horizon. She is 9. Too young for this! I look at her. Funny how she seems so much braver than me. I nodded weakly. I am not sure, honestly.

"I...well, I love you, Mama. Here, at the end of all things, I want you to know that..." Melody grabs my hand and I cry. Loud

"I heard that even the great dinosaurs cannotsurvive, millions of years ago..." Melody continues with a certain conviction in her quivering soft voice.

I kiss her forehead. She grab my hands tight. Her hands are really cold by now. Fear, must be. I look up to the sky. Northeast direction is the best direction to catch this monster.

Ahh, and I see it. Black, round, rock. Really, just arock. 100 km in diameter. Heading -well, hurtling is a better word judging from how fast it moves- toward us. Toward earth. In an unmistakable trajectory. Nothing can stop it by now. No nuclear bomb sent to blow it apart, no suicide rocket mission were successful in stopping it, or even just slowing it down. This monster is coming. Oh yes, it is coming! They said death will come in several stages.

First, people who live in this country, and a couple other neighboring countries, will have, thankfully maybe, an almost instant death from just the impact alone.

Second, everybody else. Over weeks, months, and years. Those who manage to run to an underground bunker may die at this time. Why? Ahh, changes in atmospheric structure from the dust, and no sunshine can get through. No sunshine, means no food.

Eternal winter. The great dinosaurus went extinct 65 millions of years ago from, what experts think, similar catastrophe.

Asteroid HADES 3658.56b. That's the official name of this monster. Hades, the god of underworld in Greek mythology. For me, I just call it "Death."

"Mama? I am hungry..." whispered Melody. I look to her, and I think I manage to smile. "Let's go! We will eat and be merry tonight! Spaghetti and ice cream with sprinkles?"

Melody smiles. I take her hand in mine, and go inside our little house. Yes, let's be merry. One, last, time.

A short story from - From my mind to yours with love

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