Excerpt from a diary – Found 15KM from Ground Zero in what was formerly a bed and breakfast. This is only fully intact page.

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05/13/2035

Thalia asked me to stargaze with her. I gave her the telescope. Her eyes lit up, like they always do, but I could feel a deep appreciation pour from her. She looked up at me and back to the telescope multiple times, tears welling up in her eyes until she could no longer contain her emotions, and she dove towards me, wrapping her arms around me. Her telescope rolled forward, and I panicked, reaching out to catch it, headbutting Thalia in the process.

“Thalia!” I held her forearms as she gripped mine. After a moment she began making a noise from her mouth. Confused, I asked, “Thalia?” Then, her head shot up, her black curls launched backwards, and she laughed with her whole body, shaking with every laugh. New tears streamed from her eyes, her appreciation and love flowing from her eyes now.

A moment passed. “I love you,” she said, a few stray chuckles still infected her. She rested her head on mine, pulling me closer. I gently put her telescope in the case. She clasped my hands with hers. “I love you.” She thumbed the engagement ring on my hands. I chuckled, realizing this is one of the few moments in my life in which my hands were fully cleaned. I didn’t stop to notice these little things until I met her. She taught me to notice myself.

After a long embrace, I set up her telescope. We sat on her blanket, though the mat of vines covering the roof would have been just as comfortable. “The body is aluminum but the railings that connect the multiple body parts slide along brass railings. The legs are, of course, taken from another personal telescope because… well, I didn’t have time to make you one before today. And I wanted something sturdy to hold this piece up for you securely. If you’ll look on the opposite side of the body, there’s-”

“Oh wow.” Thalia gasped, in awe. She reached out, touching the intricate wood carved plate inlaid on the side of the telescope. My finest work.

“That is a picture, carved and re-carved over the years as I came to love and know you. I couldn’t finalize a design until you encouraged me to set aside perfection for you. I’d like to think I did well in that regard.” I grabbed her finger and guided it along the piece, whispering: “Here is the arboretum and the greenhouses. In the middle is the tree and benches where we met.”

“And the fruits…”

I smiled. “And towards the other end of the carving, as one’s eye moves towards the front of the telescope, there is a sunrise over the fields, and it is closest to where light enters the telescope.”

“I think the sun must signify a bright future too. It’s a sun rising.”

“We will reunite with the rest of humanity. I know it. For now, all we can do is be proud of the lives we’ve lived, the achievements we have and will accomplish, and dream of a better future, no matter what may come.” I tilted her head towards mine. “You taught me to live.” I kissed her. “I love you so much.”