The Sun is Gone

The Sun is Gone

by Janiya Hodge-Cruz

Fenix was exceptionally happy today. She was promoted to project manager and had another trip coming up, this time to Honduras. As she was nearing her small apartment building, she noticed that her surroundings were darker than usual, that’s weird, she thought, but continued about her day. “Maybe it was daylight savings or something?” she mumbled to herself. Fenix swiftly pulled out her keys and waved to her elderly neighbor before stumbling into her living room. Fenix flipped her shoes off by the door, yawned and cracked her back, heading to her couch to watch the evening news. She was mid-yawn when she heard the words. “The sun has disappeared, please be prepared, run while yo—” the television shut off, actually it wasn’t just the T.V. but the lights, the oven warming her dinner, and the running water from her bath. Fenix’ first reaction was to check her fuse box until she heard the screams from her neighbors.

Fenix was delirious; she wanted to race outside and see what was going on but her feet were frozen to the ground, Why didn’t her body listen to her? Why couldn’t she help? Her breathing got shallow, this was a joke right? There was no way the sun, which she was annoyed by because it irritated her eyes every morning, was gone. Fenix breathed in, gathering all her courage as she peeked her head outside of the door. The pitch black darkness almost seemed to engulf Fenix, the scene almost seemed serene, there was nothing to look at which convinced Fenix that this was in fact a dream. I mean, it had to be, things like this only happened in movies. She convinced herself that if she just turned back and went to sleep this would all be over, and that’s what she did.

After ten minutes of twisting and turning, she gave up, the bellows from outside cursing at the sun and blaming the government had become unbearable for the woman. The headache Fenix had almost made her sick, forgetting the incident from yesterday, Fenix raced out the door to tell everyone outside to quiet down. “Hey, come on guys, I have work in the morning and it’s too early,” she croaked out, finally taking the crust out from her eyes she noticed she was once

again welcomed by darkness. No this couldn’t be, I’m sure I just woke up, I just— Her lips quivered. Her stance once again went from confident to hunched over as she tried searching for her front door, the screams that once seemed far away could be heard just two feet away from her.

“They turned off the power, that damn president and his minions, they did this, it’s all their fault,” a meek voice screeched.

“They’re trying to kill us, someone help, save us.”

Was that her neighbor? What were they doing out here, it’s too dangerous.

“Mrs. Park, are you okay? Where are you? let me help,” Fenix called desperately, wanting human interaction again.

“I’m right here, Fenix please help me, the government is trying to kill us,” the old woman called back.

“Mrs. Park p-please, where are you?” It was too dark to see anything. To Fenix it seemed like a never ending nightmare, was she really too useless to at least help one person? Her throat started closing up and her body started getting hot as she choked on her spit. Her legs felt like jello as the measly limbs collapsed from beneath her. Fenix was scared, no, terrified. She felt around what she recognized as her front lawn and crawled to her front door, afraid. Afraid of the things she couldn’t see, afraid that if she didn’t hurry someone would grab her and take her back out there again. She didn’t want to go back, at least for now. Those four walls which she found suffocating just a week ago, now comforted her. Fenix rolled in a ball, putting her knees in front of her face, she finally felt good enough to fall asleep.

Days and nights merged together for Fenix at this point, she didn’t know how life was going outside of her bedroom, and she ran out of food three days ago. Every time she took a breath it felt too painful, her body couldn’t produce anymore tears and her speech and thoughts were always slurred. What was she to do? Run outside again and risk getting lost just to help someone else who was probably dead by now? Or wait even longer hoping that someone or something would come save her? Her best bet was to stay in the corner of the room, the corner that kept her safe from weeks prior, and dream about life before all of this to keep her sane. She missed the kids outside playing tag, she missed her nagging boss and she missed outside. Her eyes darted to where she thought her window was, picturing the large cherry blossom tree that always looked beautiful around this time of year. Her head slowly went back down into her knees as she quietly hummed a song which seemed familiar but she was much too out of her mind to remember.

My sun, my sun when will you come back, please save me. Fenix wished she could have said it out loud but her thoughts and the screams rang in her ear for what seemed like forever, making her forget her own speech. If I’m gone will my sweet sun come back? My sweet sun who I want to see so much, are you shy? Okay, I’ll leave just for you. Fenix took her last bit of strength to open her bedroom window, took a small sigh and jumped. It looked like Fenix was finally at peace, as her eyes lit up for the last time, she could finally see her sun. She was saved. The impact of the floor was enough to feel no pain, her body was sprawled out on her lawn as blood rushed out of her. The darkness welcomed Fenix, as her body as well as the many other ones blended into the shadows.