Eternal Partners

She sits idly, batting her eyelashes as she begins to feel an overwhelming heat wash over her. She looks in surprise to her partner, who blinks and shakes his head as he continues the task at hand. Parched lips make out his name, voice hoarse as the temperature rises. She pokes at her soft blue skin gently, jolting backward as she realizes the warmth radiating from it. She repeats his name again, and this time, he looks at her in surprise, asking cautiously, “What is it?”

“It’s so hot,” she murmurs, a rash beginning to bloom on her scalp. It soon dies out, but she feels the crisp feeling of burnt skin. “What are you doing?” she exclaims. He merely shakes his head, concern creasing his brow as he replies, “I’m not doing anything. Are you alright?”

A gasp shudders through her as she sees the black liquid running from her eyes, warm puddles blooming on her hands. “It’s them again,” she whispers in realization. “The parasites… they’re killing me.”

A scream rips through her body as she feels the long gashes cut into her flesh while strands of her hair get torn out. “Make it stop!” she cries. “Please!”

He is left speechless, unsure of what to do with the sight in front of him. He’s practically helpless—he cannot save her; nobody can. The second the parasites settled upon her, the end was already destined. He stumbles backward, wanting to cry as his partner, his other half, the star-crossed love he spent every day with, crumples into an empty body.

“I’m sorry, Earth,” the sun whispers.