• The young man sat folded like a pretzel near the window. He never slept at night anymore, such pleasures were stripped away long ago. The blanket from his bed was protecting him from the cold, covering him like the shell of some sea creature. No stars or moon out on this night. Just the steady, humming glow of the streetlamps. The bleak trees outside occasionally sigh as the ghost of the wind passes through them. There was a rather large, furry gray cat fast asleep in his lap.

    Change was in the air. The television anchors have been fretting about it to their viewers for weeks. Even the government warned the people of the events which might be. Mankind was powerless to stop what was coming. But it still kept onward like a determined kid in red rover.

    The young man looked over at his laptop. The warnings had begun. Now was the time.

    He got up and unwrapped himself from his blanket. The sleepy cat fell off and tried protesting the man's sudden movement before curling up and falling back to sleep. He changed into street clothes and was sure to grap his favorite hoodie before he headed down the stairs. It was cold outside.

    He made very little sound as headed down the stairs. Probably even less when he slipped on his shoes and headed for the door. Everyone else in the household was asleep. He paused at the door, wondering if he should wake them up, but decided that his family's last moments were better off oblivious to what was happening.

    Her house was not too far away. Only a little more than a block. No lights coming from any of the houses. All sleeping, tucked away in their beds, oblivious. He walked calmly and bunched up. It was colder than he anticipated and he was now wishing he would have layered another shirt on. But not that its really going to matter in a couple of minutes.

    The house came into view. The light of TV came from the window on the porch. He shuffled up the sidewalk and came upon the porch. His breathe came out in little clouds that disappeared into the night. He looked into the window. She was sitting there watching TV, wrapped up in a blanket almost the same as he was. He could see her eyes reflecting the TVs flickering image. He could see her dark hair pulled back. He could see himself sitting beside her, snuggling watching some movie. He tapped nervously at the window. She quickly glanced over, gave him a slightly confused look, shortly followed by a smile then headed toward the door. He walked over to the front door.

    She opened the door with the blanket still covering her.

    "Why are here? You know what just happened right?" she asked him urgently.

    "Yeah, I know what happened. Listen," the young man sighed and then took a deep breathe. "I just want to say, that I love you. I have ever since I saw you in class on the first day of school. I've watched you every day trying to gather up the courage to say something to you, you know, strike up a conversation or something but I never could...you know? And...well...if there's going to be no tomorrow I figured I might as well tell you now."

    They both stood there, tears welling up in each others eyes. Clouds of breath escaping their mouths whenever they got the change. She glanced up at his face.

    "You should have said something sooner," and she motioned for him to come in.

    When the bomb went off, they were sitting on the couch wrapped up in the blanket and with each other watching the world end.