by Adrian Glass
“Don't stare at them...Looking at the remnants of their light is fine.” Jansky says smiling at her daughter who is clearly impressed by the spectacle of two stars now both setting as the day slowly becomes night.
“It's looks amazing,” her daughter replies as they both walk towards a bench that faces the horizon. They sit down, Jansky opens up her small backpack taking out paper bag, she takes out a cut sandwich and a bottle of water. She hands them to her daughter.
“Put your sunglasses on.” Jansky and her daughter place their sunglasses on. The young girl takes a bite from the sandwich.
“What's that smaller star called again?” Her daughter asks.
“It's called Phenex, it's a wise old star. Known in scientific terms as a red dwarf. It keeps our other star the Sun in check.”
Jansky's daughter sips from the bottle water, she looks up at her mom.
“What do you mean?”
“Well the Krotas, ancient people that lived in a country called Krotasis. They were very smart with early astronomy, mapping known stars, developing maths. The country still exists today. A very rich history...” Jansky smiles at her daughter. “...They named that star...” Jansky points to the red dwarf. “...Because Phenex was their god of sciences and poetry, a wise god. He kept the Sun stable, also the moon. Which is correct as both of those orbiting bodies rely on Phenex's rotation, it's position assists in creating a perfect harmony. Later, as scientists, we discovered one of the reasons that why life thrives here, because of those two stars Phenex and the Sun. Produces enough energy for life to flourish here on this planet.”
“Is grandmother up there?” Her daughter points to the sky which is now becoming darker, while at the same time constellations and stars begin to appear. Jansky holds her daughter close and kisses her forehead, she thinks back to her mother when she was younger. When they used to sit together and she would hold her close. Her mother would tell her stories about her father. A man she never knew, as he died when she was very young. Jansky's thoughts shift, she thinks about her sister, how happy she is with her new job and recently she has just been engaged.
“Well, we are all made of matter, particles, energy and light. They go on forever, for all eternity. She, your grandmother, is mostly likely traveling at the speed of light going onward into the expanding Universe.”
Jansky's daughter leaning against her mother looks up a the the now darkening sky, she has a smile on her face. “Will she come back?”
“No,” Jansky replies also looking up at the night sky, she then looks in the direction of the Sun which is now barely visible over the horizon, to the left is the red dwarf star also setting following the Sun down below the horizon. A deep red hue emits from the star as it's brightness fades until the following day. Jansky as the chief astronomer at Callais Lake observatory thinks about the star Phenex. A favorite star of humanity, a noble ancient source of energy - a star that has inspired hope and aspired the generations. A sign of stability, while the Sun at times can be unpredictable, solar flares from it's fiery nuclear furnace, yet Phenex sits within it's orbit around the younger Sun. Its presence almost dreamlike, serene. She also thinks of the dream she had the previous night. A city that resided near a bay, that is not familiar but at the same time familiar. Jansky remembers a bay bridge, the city's streets seem strange, hilly that are lined with houses which are perched on either side of their inclines and peaks. The people in her dream. Friends? Once again a familiarity, but only in the memories of her dream as it fades. Her sister is also in the dream, but not Jansky's deceased mother. She holds her daughter close as there is someone else missing in this dreamlike alternative reality - her daughter. Yet, when she attempts to remember it's faded imagery, Jansky doesn't feel amiss, displaced or lonely. As there is a man in this dream, she has dreamed of him before, Jansky sitting with her daughter looking at the darkened skyline she can barely recall his features. For a brief moment she remembers his face. He was kind to her, she felt happy, safe and desired. A feeling of love.
“Alright, lets head back before it gets dark.” Jansky says standing as does her daughter, the last fragments of twilight are nearly over.
“What about the aliens?” Her daughter asks as Jansky and herself make their way back through the small pine forest, a warm northern wind blows through the darkened tree-line.
“Aliens?” Jansky replies holding her daughter's hand, she places the small rucksack over her left shoulder
They walk down the small path passing through the pine trees, as the wind whistles through the small forest.
“Who told you? Someone at school?” Jansky asks as she continues holding her daughter's hand as they walk toward's her jeep.
“A boy in my class, his dad said that an Alien created a hole in the sky.”
“A hole...It's actually a Void in Space. But we don't know if aliens created it...” She looks at her daughter impressed by her astuteness. “...No proof.”
“But can we see it?” She asks holding her mother's hand as she tries to peer through the pine trees that loom overhead.
Jansky opens the passenger door of her jeep as her daughter sits down. “Seatbelt!” Jansky orders as her daughter affixes the seatbelt. She then closes the door walking around to the drivers side, opening the door Jansky sits down. Closing the door shut, she places her keys into the ignition. Before starting the engine, she turns and looks at her young daughter who is still trying to look up into the darkness.
“It's very far away, but it's a massive Void, there are no stars or Galaxies and it's very cold. Nothing appears to exist within that spherical...” Jansky holds up both of hands forming a circle with her fingers. “...A round shape that encases the monolithic.”
“What does that mean?”
Jansky also looks up at the dark skyline, she the looks back at her daughter. “Super huge. So your friend...”
“He's not my friend,” her daughter promptly replies.
Jansky chuckles. “Well does he know that your mother is an astronomer.”
“No he doesn't,” she replies shaking her head.
“Well you tell him that is what your mom does for a job.”
“He says his dad is smart, he designs houses.”
“And what do you think I am?” Jansky points to herself
“Smarter...” Her daughter replies smiling.
Jansky turns on the headlights of her jeep. “Vastly,” she replies looking ahead at the road.
“We hypotheses that our Universe, this one, that you and I reside in, is within a bubble, as are other Universes. Further to calculations, we believe, although we still need more evidence. That this Void is the beginning of another Universe. But it's dead. No life, no stars, no Galaxies. Nothing.”
“So a Universe can die?”
Jansky looks out from her driver seat window at the now dark surroundings wondering if she should continue this conversation with her daughter. Worried that she might become upset with a discussion about dead Universes.
“Sweetie, so many questions. It's good that you are talking about astronomy with your classmates. In a few years from now you'll be taught science.” Jansky reaches over with her left hand and gently touches her daughter's face. “Maybe one day you will discover the answer.”
“About the Aliens?” She replies, her expression innocent.
Jansky nods smiling. “Yes”
Elly Jansky starts the engine and drives onward towards the main road.