Doomsday

    That year, 3020, was the most catastrophic year yet in human history. Some scientists tried to develop a new cure medicine for cancer, using a type of coronavirus. However, the virus genetically mutated and accidentally leaked from a lab, becoming a disastrous plague, and the streets were empty. Everybody in the world got infected. After billions of deaths, the scientists found out that the virus loved the sunlight, they would multiply with astounding speed in the presence of sunlight, which would result in an infected person dying after 30 seconds. A few years later, underground cities were built globally and people would live in them to avoid the sunlight that would cause death quickly.

    Fiona was a frail and thin girl, living in an underground city under California. Fiona was four years older than the rest of her school peers, turning 16 this year, 3030, and had lived in the city for the past 16 years. Fiona’s parents all died tragically from this coronavirus. When she was alone, Fiona would try to think back to the happy years, when the virus was not around, of her feeling the warmth and brightness of the Sun in a hot summer’s day, the bustling of cars on the road during a splendid sunset in Golden State, the laughter of children who were going to the amusement park, and her hug with her father when he came home from work every day. Fiona dreamed, dreaming about listening to the enthralling stories from her mother about dragons and fantasy worlds, dreaming about riding her father’s car while seeing a spectacular sunrise to their way to the serene countryside, dreaming about laughing and giggling with her parents under the shade of green trees in a clear blue sky, and dreaming about the unbearably savory smell of the Christmas feast every year, with presents laden under a shining Christmas tree. But then Fiona always awoke to the dead and depressing darkness in silence in reality, thinking for months about having a glimpse of the Sun and immersing herself in its light streams, although it would lead to death……

    Although the students lived in underground cities, they still kept an alarm clock in each of their rooms that would wake them up each morning. One morning, Fiona woke up and found out that it was her birthday and she would be 16 today. Fiona sat up and took a deep breath. Fiona went by her window, and slowly, delicately, opened it up a little bit. Golden sunlight pierced the room and Fiona let out a small cry, turning her head away and putting her hands to block the sunlight. But gradually, Fiona took away her hands and bits of sunlight streams shone on her face. For some moment, Fiona remained silent, her memories and dreams of the bright past flooded back into her mind, and tears began to flow on her face. Fiona completely took away her hands, closed her eyes, and let the burning sunlight shone on her face unrestrictedly. It was ten years ago when Fiona experienced this golden light, and she now climbed up on her window and immersed her entire body into the baptism of sunlight, smelling the sweet smell of it. But suddenly, Fiona found out that breathing became harder and harder, her body was giving up on her due to the virus, although she still felt warm and cozy, so comfortable, so sweet. Fiona’s sight turned black and she fell from her window, still with sunlight on her face……