[ WP ] You are tasked with conducting the funeral of the human race .

I guess, when the dust settled down and when humanity took it's own life, we just were n't *ready*. We were n't ready for the consequences of our own actions. Years and years of the same stupidity, and suddenly the Earth's air became too hard to breathe, and the ground became too unstable to walk on, we said, `` Wait! We might have fucked up!'' 
 
 But it was far too late to do anything. I guess at some point it just became normal to live like that - to live in a world so hostile, a world so cruel and uninhabitable. Until eventually, when the population of the earth began to dwindle instead of exponentially grow, and eventually tipped into a free fall - I think that's when people began to take notice. 
 
 Eventually it was just me and Jessica. All the politics in the world could n't save what we had already ruined. The third to last to die had tripped and fallen in the greenhouse. Stupidest death I could think of, but he was almost eighty and his death was expected. I think he just lost hope. 
 
 Now we stand at the door to the greenhouse. We've always considered leaving, but now more than ever it all seems so pointless. Hopeless. 
 
 `` James,'' Jessica says, `` do you think anyone will ever find the remains of humanity?'' 
 
 It's an interesting question. I wonder if any society can balance consumption of their home world and keeping it stable, and still manage to reach space. I do n't think so. 
 
 But Jessica does. She is like a beam of sunlight in the darkest room. Sometimes she can be blinding. Other times she is warm and friendly. Something inside of me wants her light to shine on, long after I'm gone. Another part of me knows that if I leave, the dimming of her light will be more drawn out. More pain for her. 
 
 `` I do n't think so.'' I sit in the sand of the virtual beach and sigh. `` I do n't think any civilization can get that far.'' 
 
 `` I think we could have.'' She pauses. `` James - we were almost there. The scientists - they say we could have reversed it if the treaty were passed. I'm sure on a planet out there with a saner populace than ours, it would have.'' 
 
 `` It might have. But there will always be denial, I think, and - there wo n't be enough people who care on any planet to save themselves.'' 
 
 The sun is setting. The perfect beach in the perfect world. I feel a need to end it. End how fake it all is. 
 
 `` Let's go digging,'' I say. 
 
 And about an hour later, we find what we are looking for. Buried under the sand is a large red lever. Two words are very plainly written above it. `` THE END.'' 
 
 I do n't think any more discussion was needed. We both knew it was the right way to end things. We pulled the lever, together. 
 
 And suddenly, I opened my eyes for the first time in years. The world around me was dark and unforgiving. The land was barren. Across the river, the ruins of New York defiantly stood, empty except for the occasional gust of wind. 
 
 I gasped. The air was frigid. My eyes stung. `` Jessica,'' I say, but I ca n't take the effort to say and more. We managed to take the jackets off some bodies that were still hooked into the machine but had long since expired - their glass cases cracked and they froze to death - they simply opted to die - there were so many different ways to die. 
 
 `` At these temperatures,'' I say, `` How long...'' 
 
 `` About a day, I'd guess.'' 
 
 I had a day to live. The thought was comforting. I'd rather a day than eternity, waiting to see how I will die. Whether I will be forced to leave her behind or I will live months or even years without her. 
 
 `` A day.'' 
 
 Nothing is said for a few minutes. 
 
 `` I do hope there is intelligent life out there,'' Jessica says, `` because if there is n't, nobody will ever see what I am about to do.'' 
 
 She picks up a large stick and places it in the yellow sand. She begins to write.
