Serafim Nazarenko·
36 Day Ago
The Last of Mars
"The Last of Mars"
Mars stood eerily silent, like the dead. Once a red planet, it was now a gray, dust-covered desert. The last Martian, Aaron, sat in his old dwelling, gazing out the window at the two suns setting on the horizon.
He remembered how Mars had once teemed with life—oases, cities, and people who dreamed of the stars. But now, it was only he and old memories that remained. The climate had changed, the water had evaporated, and the plants had withered. Technology had failed, and with it, hope.
Aaron reached for an old photograph. In it, a younger version of himself smiled while holding his little daughter in his arms. She died during the Great Storm, and his wife followed soon after, unable to bear the grief. Since then, Aaron has lived alone, watching the slow death of his planet.
He set up an old radio receiver and tuned in to the frequency of Earth. Sometimes he managed to catch snippets of music and voices. But it felt like shouting into the desert; Earth was too far away to hear him.
Aaron stepped up to the window and opened it. The cold Martian wind swept across his face. He took a deep breath of the dusty air and smiled. "I was the last Martian," he whispered, gazing at the two suns that had already vanished beyond the horizon. "But I was not alone. I had memories, dreams, and love."
And with those words, Aaron closed his eyes, ready to face the unknown. Mars fell silent, and with it, the last voice of this once-flourishing planet faded aay.