I slowly open my stinging eyes, tears streaming.
Behind me someone speaks—a mumbled locution of awe. I want to shout at them, to tell them to shut the hell up. But I don’t think my voice will work.
The first thing I see is red. Lots of it. I think of love, of blood, of death. Three things that await me here. I’m in love with this place already.
Two years later I develop a blood abnormality. Kidney failure. Probably because of where we are. I could go home. I don’t.
I become the first man to die on Mars.
Each descriptive phrase pulled me to the next as i hurried to find out where the scene is set. Well done.
Thank you Adelaide! So glad you enjoyed The First!
Wow! Great ending! I kept wondering where you were going with it, and then you nailed that reveal! What a great way to tie it all together — to say nothing of your ability to evoke so many emotions in so few words!
Oh wow, thank you so much for the kind words John. Based on the title, and the colour red, I thought they ending would have been obvious. Glad I managed to surprise you and I’m glad you enjoyed The First!
Trite.
In what respect David?
Unexpected end – didn’t see it coming.