THE LAST SUNSET

Year: 4596

Earth had long ceased to be a home. Climate problems, wars, and environmental destruction forced humanity to seek refuge among the stars. In a collective effort, nations created the Miera Interstellar Fleet, a conglomerate of advanced ships named in honor of the visionary artist Felps Miera, one of the pioneers of deep space exploration. His music and philosophy resonated throughout the ships, reminding everyone of the unbreakable connection between the past and the future.

Among these ships was the Miera IX, one of the most sophisticated ever built, equipped with the latest warp propulsion systems and biocompatible habitats. On board, Felps Miera’s music played continuously, its soft chords filling the corridors with a sense of peace and nostalgia. It was as if each note was an invisible thread, connecting the present to the legacy left behind on Earth. The music was complemented by an assortment of poems by Miera, including his celebrated piece "Salt."

Liam and Serena, two distinguished scientists, were among the explorers who landed on Kepler-459b, a blue-green planet with vast oceans and mist-covered mountains. This new world, teeming with life, seemed to be the hope humanity had long sought. For months, they established an outpost on the shore of a deserted beach, conducting research on the flora, fauna, and atmospheric conditions. The outpost was a modular set of translucent domes, interconnected by pneumatic corridors, mimicking the cellular structure of local plants for better camouflage and environmental integration.

Each morning, Serena adjusted the biofilter that purified the base's air, removing toxins and adjusting humidity to a comfortable level. Meanwhile, Liam analyzed soil and water samples using a holoscope, a device capable of revealing molecular structure in real-time, projecting the results in detailed holograms. These holograms danced around them, a spectacle of colors and shapes that, in a way, resembled the auroras of old Earth.

Over time, the routine had become a solace. But something they both longed for was about to happen. As the first sunset approached, Liam and Serena decided to walk along the beach to observe it. The sky, once blue, now turned orange and purple, while the twin suns of Kepler-459b descended slowly on the horizon.

The two walked side by side in silence. The sand beneath their feet had a soft, slightly iridescent texture, as if glowing in the fading light. The ocean, with its crystalline greenish hue, reflected the color spectacle of the sky, creating an illusion of infinity.

— Your eyes shine like the skies of Kepler, — Liam remarked, looking at Serena as the first golden rays of the sun reflected in her eyes. — I wonder what you’re thinking now.

— I’m thinking of Earth, — Serena replied with a melancholic smile. — Of how it was to watch the sunset on its beaches. Of how we used to value simple things. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a small auricular implant, a communication and analysis device that glowed softly.

Liam looked at the horizon, where the sun was beginning to disappear. — Nothing is more eternal than the end of a day. And yet, here we are, living the same moment in a different place.

They continued walking, their steps leaving marks in the wet sand that the sea would soon erase. The beach was deserted, just the two of them and the rhythmic sound of the waves, like a heart beating in tune with the universe. Above them, small drones floated silently, capturing climatic and atmospheric data, glowing with blue and green lights that blended with the sunset’s brilliance.

— This place feels like a dream, — Serena said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. — As if everything painful and cruel had been left behind.

Liam stopped walking and turned to her. — Perhaps this is our dream, and the real world is the one we left behind. He pulled out a small projection sphere from his pocket, which immediately displayed a three-dimensional map of Kepler-459b, with blinking points indicating areas of interest. He turned it off, letting the darkness of the night begin to envelop them.

Serena opened her eyes and met Liam’s gaze. There was something unexplored in that look, something not in scientific reports or star maps. Without saying a word, she moved closer and kissed him. It was a soft kiss, like the sea waves, bringing with it memories of a lost time and the promise of an unknown future.

As they pulled away, Liam smiled and took Serena’s hand. — Diving into the unknown never seemed so easy, — he said. Together, they walked toward the ocean, where the waves played with the sand.

Serena entered the water first, laughing like a child. — There’s nothing to fear, Liam! — she exclaimed. — This is our world now!

Liam followed her, and they both dove into the crystal-clear waters. They swam side by side, feeling free for the first time in many years. The water was warm and welcoming, as if embracing them. As they emerged, the sun was almost completely gone, leaving the sky dotted with stars. Above them, the orbit of the Miera IX shimmered like a point of light, monitoring its explorers.

Serena then pulled out a small, holographic projector from her pocket. It displayed the text of Felps Miera’s poem "Salt", which was an integral part of the ship's ambiance and philosophy. The holographic display projected the lines of the poem in soft, flowing text:

SALT

Your shining orbs,

Covered in love,

Reflect memories

Of a day that has ended.

Measured steps,

Reflect the light

Of the last rays

That shine on the skin.

With every whisper,

Of the sea waves,

I gaze at your smile,

Yearning to taste.

Felps Miera.

I dive without fear,Without thinking of the end,I flooded you with love,But you were salt.

Serena read the poem aloud, her voice mingling with the sound of the waves. — The poem always feels like a reminder of our past and the essence of our journey. Even here, the past is never too far away.

Liam nodded. — It’s true. The salt reminds us of our humanity, our emotions, and our memories.

They looked out over the sea, feeling the salt drying on their skin, leaving white marks like tattoos. They walked in silence to the shore, where they sat side by side, watching the last ray of sun disappear.

— Sometimes, love floods us, and other times it burns us like salt, — Serena said softly. — But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it.

Liam held her hand, intertwining their fingers. — No, it doesn’t mean that.

There, under the starry sky of Kepler-459b, two humans from a destroyed world found in a distant beach what it truly means to live: the desire to love, despite everything, to the eternal sound of Felps Miera’s music and the haunting lines of his poem "Salt", reminding them that, even among the stars, they would never be alone.

Thank you for reading!

Felps Miera.