'I am Whole and Ubiquitous' by Luanne Castle

I’m not the flip side of the sun, although that’s how I’m presented in cloth books for babies. I’m not merely the monarch of silver or shadows or home of owls and bats, mother of mothers or keeper of clocks or menstrual cycles, though I am all that. I am the bright place in the midnight sky. I am searched for and watched night by night. I am praised. I watch over you when you sleep. But remember, during the day I am there, too, hidden behind the swagger of the sun.

'Moonlight' by LA Carson

He nibbled on cheese and observed her from a distance. Remembering a time when he was envious of all she had, her celestial beauty, her universal status, he understood his jealousy had morphed to concern. Stepping away from the lens, unable to watch further, he strolled the grounds seeking solace, stepping carefully among craters, the conclaves as hollow as his heart. Hadn't he given her all he had to give. Faithfully shining his light on her, loyal with every phase of his existence, surrounding her with devotion, month after month? Pacing, wringing his hands, he stared into the black abyss of night, desperate for answers that failed to materialize. In truth, theirs had been a relationship of ebbs and flows, waxing and waning, his pull strong but falling short in comparison to hers. Still, he could never wish her harm. He ran a trembling hand through his crescent hairline and with the determination of an eternal admirer, he turned back, unable to stay away. Returning to the telescopic lens, the Man in the Moon witnessed the final demise of Mother Earth, her annihilation at the hands of her own greedy, destructive inhabitants. The sun shouted a wailing lament. A mournful keening echoed throughout the galaxy. His heart eclipsed into sorrowful darkness.

NFFD 2024 Prompt #22: Face of the Earth

 

Prompt #22: Face of the Earth
EARTH prompt E

Welcome to The Write-In!  This year, we're celebrating the 2024 National Flash Fiction Day Anthology theme of The Classical Elements - Air, Earth, Water and Fire. Throughout National Flash Fiction Day, we'll be posting one time-related prompt on the hour every hour from 00:00 until midnight (BST), for a total of 25 prompts in all.  You have until midnight on Sunday (BST) to submit your responses for possible publication here at the Write-In.  We'll start posting responses on Sunday, 16 June 2024....

*

Write a flash from the point of view of the earth (or another planet or moon).

*

If you’re submitting this to us, make sure to note that this is a response to Prompt 22: Face of the Earth.

You can submit responses until 23:59 BST on Sunday, 16 June 2024 for a chance to be published here at The Write-In.

You can claim the badge for this prompt by visiting the badgifier here (hosted by the NFFD website).

---

Earthrise photo from Apollo 8 Mission, courtesy of NASA, via Wikimedia Commons