The sun gradually disappeared beneath the horizon.
The golden sea turned orange.
Then crimson.
Then violet.
Eventually, darkness began spreading across the world.
Yet the countdown remained.
Floating across the heavens like an unavoidable sentence.
<12:08:41>
<12:08:40>
<12:08:39>
<12:08:38>
The numbers continued falling.
The beach became quieter as families slowly returned to the nearby village. Children who had spent the afternoon playing along the shore were called home by their parents.
Nobody wanted to waste what little time remained.
Shunya, Naomi, and Vikoria remained seated on the sand.
None of them seemed willing to leave first.
The ocean waves rolled forward and retreated endlessly, carrying a soothing rhythm that made the silence feel comfortable rather than awkward.
For a long time, nobody spoke.
Then Naomi suddenly asked, "Do you remember the first day we met?"
Shunya blinked. "A little."
"A little?"
