Five minute free write - sunburn

Today I decided to try something a bit different.

To connect dots in a more solid way. Move the line from gray to black and bring some of my free writes together. A continuation, or rather, side story from what happened yesterday with the prompt, SWITCH, today's prompt SUNBURN tells a bit of that story from a different angle. Contained as much as possible in the 5 minute limit. I was very tempted just to turn it into a longer story, but for now it will have to set. A potential framework for a bigger picture :)

Another lovely prompt for @mariannewest's Five minute free write, I hope you enjoy this little piece.

---

The attack had come out of nowhere.

Blindsided by their trust in humanities desire to survive and grow. The captain had been poised, ready to send them off onto mankinds next great adventure. Their next evolution as a species. When an explosion rocked the ship.

It wasn't a big one, but it had been enough. At that moment so many parts had been moving, so many preparations had be sliding into place, that it didn't take a lot.

But, there had been a solution. Not the best of solutions. But something.

The soft click of his breather recycled again. Alone, adrift in the void, he stared at where the ship had sat. Tethered to the universe he felt more alone than he had ever felt in his life. No rescue was possible, all avenues of escape cut off. In the distance he could see see reminants of the attack.

An attack that in the end had failed.

Another breath and more soft clicks. He had time. Not a lot, but some.

It was so dark though.

Everything tinted by his polarized faceplate. 'What did it matter' he thought to himself. It was the end anways, 'what would a little sunburn matter?' A light chuckle.

And everything became clear. Colors became vibrant again, light bright, shadows visible. And slowly his body turned until he was able to view his home. So far away, but, again he felt connection. A pale blue dot...that's all they'd see by now. But he could see it for all it's beauty. It would survice. Even if he didn't. That was enough.

---

Sacrifice for the greater good

And the hope that humanity can and will become something better...something I guess I personally want to focus on a bit more. It's hard not to be overwhelmed by all the signs that people have become completely selfish. I know it's programmed into our genes as a survival mechanism to pass on our specific DNA, but we've gone past that, from empathic to apathetic. At least that's what the news tells us. But, I don't think that's the real truth. It's too easy to believe. It's way too easy to see. It gets ratings at the cost of our overall view of humanity.

There is so much good in this world. So many people willing to do so much for their neighbors. I've had the luck of being touched by it, and the honor of being a part of it, and hope to continue to do so to the best of my ability. I want to believe in the goodness of humanity, our ability to overcome this eddy we seem to have gotten stuck in recently. To rejoin the flow of life and growth that should be our birthright as a species.

Anyways, enough of this sappy stuff that hopefully warms your heart just a little bit on this cold Friday morning (at least in LA...wtf is with 40degree weather?).

Be well!
Michael

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