[ WP ] One day , the earth stops rotating . About half of the world is plunged into eternal nighttime ; about half is stuck with perpetual daylight . One small sliver of latitude finds itself in the evening , a suitable middle-ground . As people begin to flock there , you consider hopping on the bandwagon .

I take a deep breath and let out a sigh, simultaneously pressing the'start' button on the timer. I watch the first second tick-off: 30:00 - 29:59 -29-58. 
 
 `` I think we could just about make it, if those so-called experts are right,'' I say wearily to my fiance of one day, without even turning around. 
 
 `` hmm?'' she replies, rather absent-mindedly. Understandable under the circumstances, really. 
 
 `` We could just about make it. Wouldnt it be nice to watch the sun set? Kind of romantic in a way,'' I persist. I dont know why, i just have the inclination that it would be the right thing to do. Maybe one too many Hollywood movies. 
 
 `` Yeh, romantic with the other millions of people doing the same thing.'' She simply replies. She always was the pragmatic one. 
 
 I sigh and return to the couch, next to her. We hold hands for a second for mutual support, and then pull out our phones. Im as surprised as she is to find the network still up, and we take the opportunity to make the calls we had long delayed. 
 
 25:45 - 25:44 - 25:43 
 
 The calls to family, friends and in-laws took longer than expected. We were both quite emotional, so that certainly didnt help expedite things at all. It was nice however to hear their voices - people we had loved our entire lives, connected once again with each other. 
 
 After i close the final call, i glance at the timer. 
 
 5:00 - 4:59 - 4:58 
 
 I look lovingly at my Fiance. It had taken me far too long to ask for her hand. I clasp it now and stroke the ring with my fingers. I feel tears in my eyes and blink them away. 
 
 `` I'm sorry it took so long for me to ask you. You're the best thing in my life. I wish...'' i struggle, voice cracking. 
 
 `` Dont apologise for anything... What matters is we are together,'' she replies. Bless her, she always knew what to say. 
 
 We sit in silence for a short while, simply enjoying each others company. The seconds tick by painfully. I cant help but think of our lives together, of my life before that. It doesnt really `` flash'' like the movies say, just sort of plays out - like an old slideshow. 
 
 2:05 - 2:04 
 
 `` It wasnt all bad, was it. We - humanity - did some amazing stuff, didnt we?'' I say, try to be philosophical about it. Philosophy was never my strong point. 
 
 Silence re consumes the room. 
 
 1:33 - 1:32 - 1:31 
 
 My heart beats painfully in my chest. I reach out and clasp my fiance's hand, and then pull her tight into a hug - as if the power of my hug would protect her. 
 
 The timer sounds a high-pitched beep as it enters its final minute. Einstein was right; time absolutely is relative. This 30 minutes has simultaneously felt like a lifetime and but a blink of the eye. 
 
 `` im scared,'' She whispers gently into my ear. 
 
 `` Me too.'' 
 
.30.29.28.27 
 
 My heart feels like a jackhammer as i hold her tight. The seconds tick by into nothingness as we finally hear the roaring. Indescribable, intimidating roaring. The wave of water, upset by the sudden cessation of motion, would be like a freight train to an ant. Mercifully we wouldnt have time to register the impact before being cast to oblivion. 
 
 The timer beeps down the last few seconds of humanity, and perhaps all sentient life in the universe. Oh how cruel the universe is. 
 
.5 -.4 -.3 -.2 
 
 `` I love you -- -- -- -- -- -'' 
 
 

