Short: The End of a Long Night

“Let me see the sunrise,” I said.

“What?” he asked.

“It’s been a long night.”

We went up the stairs together, the sound of our footsteps filling our ears.

When we got to the top, he pushed against the door.

“Locked,” he said.

With a shove, I broke the latch, and we went out onto the roof. He stood for a moment, looking about himself.

“There,” he said, pointing.

I turned to the east, waiting for the night to end.

“Riker,” I said.

“Yeah?”

“Look.”

I could just see the light of dawn dancing at the edge of the world.

“Is this it?”

“The beginning,” he said.

The day came slowly at first. I could smell odors long forgotten, like the fragrance of an old love. Then all at once, an explosion of light came over the hill. It burned my skin and my eyes, but I forced myself to look. Now, my nose was filled with smoke as I burst into flames.

The sky was blue, bright, nearly white, but blue. The shadows of wispy clouds were turned to gold. I fell. As the sun entered heaven I collapsed into smoldering embers, some gentle breeze carrying my ashes home.