Peach

The cloud was a satin curve thrusting into the sky like a breaching whale. Fading sun rays gave it a peachy hue and the sky behind it was faded cobalt. The sight took his breath away as he watched from the side of the hill. This was the last cloud or sunset he would see, after all.

He sat down on the grass, head in his hands. He tried to refuse. Tried to tell them. Tried to say no. But they would not listen. Called his fears ridiculous. They would have their weapon. At that moment, the fuse was lit.

He built it and left. He needed to see trees, and deer, and maybe a river or two. His phone began buzzing on the ground beside him. He checked the time. This was the moment. The first city vaporized. It wouldn’t be long now. It must be the military or even the President themselves calling. They probably congratulated each other when the weapon detonated, praising the greatest display of destructive power the world had ever seen. Small-minded fools. He wondered how their expressions changed when the atmosphere caught fire and the great wall of flame began to race across the entire face of the earth.

The fools were calling to see if there was a way to stop it. He already answered that at the beginning. The earth would be engulfed in minutes. He imagined all the people outside at this moment. Doom sweeping toward them. Parents scooping up their children and running. The children screaming in terror. Hush, child. It will be done in an instant. Hug your mothers and fathers close.

He wept into his hands. Could he have done anything else? The President joked about hiding in a bunker during the detonation. Well, he made sure to turn that into a deathtrap before he left. You don’t get to destroy the earth and live the rest of your days a mile underground eating canned baked beans. No, you were coming with us.

He dug his fingers into the dirt beneath the grass and thought of all the life there. Bugs, worms, fungus, a universe of bacteria. Would they survive? God, is this the end of this pale blue dot? He sighed and mercifully was overwhelmed with peace. Then he felt a comforting warmth embrace his back, heard the thunderous roar, and dissolved to ash.