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The sun was already low on the late afternoon sky when Leah sat on the hard stone.
Dangling her legs over the edge of the cliff, an endless distance seperating them from the sea below, Dalika felt a shift on her left.
„It’s as if the world knew this is the last day and tried to cheer everyone up.“
Nodding her head slightly she looked at the sky, turning cheesy shades of pink and orange behind the glowing red sun.
She almost couldn’t believe that just this morning all she had worried about was what to wear to her date with Leah. But that was before they brought it on TV of course.
The news about the instabilty in the Higgs-Field resulting in a bubble of a new sort of space spreading through the entire universe at the speed of light, destroying all known life.
Though Dalika was, at first, certain the newsspeaker had to be joking, her explanation that scientists had calculated the “Bubble“ would reach earth the following evening made it clear this was not a lost bet.
The information that her life was practically over slowly spread through Dalikas entire body, letting tears flow over her cheeks, turning her stomach and throwing her to the ground as her legs turned to weak to hold her weight.
Having lost track of time Dalika slowly got up a little while later, eyes dry and hurting and legs still shaking.
She went to call my family one last time, and if she cursed herself for moving so damn far away from them, noone had to know.
And then Dalika had come here, sitting down at the edge of the cliff just outside of town, looking at the ocean far below her. It had been hours before she was supposed to meet Leah here, but this placed had always managed to calm her down.
Silently, Dalika glanced to Leah. Them meeting here wasn’t anything special, they‘d done this at least once a month since they had met on their very first day of college. Dalika had run into one of the glass doors and Leah had simultaneously laughed and asked her whether she was okay and they have been friends ever since.
But this meeting was supposed to be special.
Dalika was angry at herself for having wasted so much time. She had planned to confess to Leah, that over the past year friendship wasn’t the only thing she felt for her.
And now there was no time left.
Leah broke the silence: “How the fuck is this even happening?“
Helplessly I shrug my shoulders.
„The universe wasn’t supposed to end. Especially not today.“ Leah sighed, a desperate edge to her words.
Dalika turned to her, eybrows drawn up. “Why not today it’s as good a day as any“
„It isn’t.“
The soft cry almost breaking her heart, Dalika pulled Leah into a deep embrace. She begann rubbing her back soothingly, the way her mother had always done when Dalika had been sad.
After a little while of doing nothing but hugging each other Leah unwound her arms from Dalikas waist and lifted her head from her shoulder.
„I’m sorry, I know this is difficult for everyone. I shouldn’t be whining, at least I am spending the time I’ve got
left with someone I love.“
„I love you, too“
Dalika wanted to slap herself. Had she really just said that? Of course her stupid mouth had spoken faster than her brain could comprehend what Leah had said, what had she expected.
After what felt like enough time for the “Bubble“ to reach them Dalika finally built up enough courage to look at Leah, finding her gaping back, mouth open.
„I am sorry, that was really inappropriate. I just wanted to get over myself and tell you tonight. But then this stupid error in the Higgs-Field occured.“
Leah let out an abrupt laugh. “Well, two things more we have in common I guess.“
Dalika looked at her, eyebrows drawn tightly together.
“I wanted to tell you about my feelings today, too. Well, guess we both fucked that up.“
This admission was all Dalika needed to lay her hands on Leahs cheeks, and lean close.
“Can I kiss you?“
In stead of an answer, Leah leaned forward, and their lips touched softly.
They bothed drew back and looked at each other for a while, not knowing what to do.
Scratching her head Leah asked „Do you want to cuddle?“
“Sure.“
Dalika leaned in, placed her arms around Leahs waist and rested her head on her shoulder, Leahs head on top of hers.
They watched the flowing sun sink into the depths of the ocean one last time, awaiting the end of their world and everything else.