Fall

The Sun was already setting by the time the couple reached the highest peak of the Hammer Island. They looked over the lush forested hills, over their beachside bungalow and the turquoise sea down below, towards the evening horizon. Huxley took out a bottle of champagne and a pair of cups from his backpack, while Lola sat down on the warm rocks, eyes fixated on the sky.

"Here it comes," she whispered, her voice nearly breaking.

A shooting star emerged, careening from east to west, all bright and beautiful. For a few seconds, the whole world was silent.

Huxley sat down next to Lola as she blinked away tears and handed her one of the cups.

"Hey, look at it like that," he said in a strained voice, "we had the best honeymoon we could ever ask for. If we knew sooner, nothing would change except our honeymoon would be, well..."

She was sobbing now, softly.

"And we saw a star falling, so we should make a wish," he tried to smile, then kissed her on the tear-streaked cheek. "I wish to spend the rest of my life with you."

"You're fucking stupid," she started to laugh through the sobs. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

They clinked their cups and slowly sipped the sparkling wine, watching as the horizon grew bright and ever brighter, even drowning out the Sun.

The shock wave got them a few seconds before the firestorm.