They Walk Among Us

The Earth has gone through a lot.

A freaking lot.

Wars, natural disasters, social calamities- you name it, we've gone through it all more than once.

But this has never happened before.

Dr. Steven Reilly was sitting on his balcony, looking up at the beautiful night sky. As he gazed at the stars, he thought about his life. Steven Reilly, Ph.D. in Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics, writer of 3 bestsellers, and Head of Research of the Physics department in Harvard, he has definitely lived a successful life.

But why do I feel so empty? he thought.

Oh yeah...

Dr. Steven Reilly is ALSO a widower, was in a tight financial crisis, and he was on the verge of being sacked because of his lack of productiveness in the last year. He was a laughingstock of the whole Physics Department, all his friends left him, and nobody wanted to fund his research. Yep, his life is at a dead end.

Steven sat there in the balcony, thinking over all these things. One fact came out prominently- he was a FAILURE. He was of no more use to this world, and he has 'exceeded his usefulness'.

Knock knock knock

There was someone at the door. Steven jumped, surprised that anybody would be awake at this time, and ran to the door to open it.

"What are you doing knocking at this time of-"

Drat. It was the building manager. He looked pretty ticked.

"Mr. Reilly, you have not paid your rent for over three months already. I have been patient with you, I've tried to help you, but you still won't-"

"Please, just give me one more month! I swear I'll-"

"NO. Mr. Reilly, I understand your situation," the building manager's expression softened. "But I've gotta make a living, and you and your two neighbours are the only people renting my rooms, and I've gotta make a living. So I'll offer you a deal. Just pay me this month's rent, or I'll have to evict you. I'm sorry, Steve, but that's what I gotta do. "

Steven thought about this for a moment. The rent he had to pay was more or less the only money he made every month from his books nowadays, and those were needed to cover his living expenses. But he needed this place more than anything. All his precious stuff, all of his memories, all of it came with this room.

"Fine," he said. "Here's your money. They're all I have left."

"Thanks, Steve," said the building manager. And so he went about to do his daily business.

Steven went back to the balcony, more worried and regretful than before. The night seemed to respect his thoughts- it was quiet and peaceful, the perfect atmosphere for thinking.

Not long later, the sun came up. The bright and happy sun, pushing the darkness of night away to make way for a new day. He remembered his father, who used to say, "There's an end to everything, (insert preferred nickname depending on mood here), for both good and bad. All we can do is to make the best of it. That cheered Steven up a bit. Even for the blackest night, there's always a dawn coming.

Wait.

There's something wrong here.

Steven didn't know it, but he felt something wrong with this new day. Something different.

And then he looked at the sun.