“It had been fifteen years since the sun had last risen.” None of us know what happened or why, but we had to learn to live with it regardless. We stopped wondering if the sun would ever come back up. Goodness there’s about fifty of us that have no memories of the sun at all. So when the sun finally came back up, no one knew what to do.

See I’m one of they fifty (or so) teens that have no memories of the sun. We range from fourteen to seventeen and have lived our whole lives in the night. We’ve learned to hunt and gather in the cold darkened and thrive this way. The cold is just something we’ve always dealt with. Something we were born into. Cold, lonely darkness, that none of us questioned. How could we, we didn’t know any better.

In our homes we used candles which gave some light but not much. We couldn’t use them all the time but they helped not trip over each other if we needed the bathroom in the middle of sleep.

Our surprise when out of nowhere a giant light started coming from a far away place must have been hilarious to watch. Later on we were told that was called a “sunrise” and that it comes over the “horizon”. Apparently it was a normal occurrence for my mother and grandmother. But I- I had never seen something so bright. It was almost annoying, regardless they say we’ll learn to love it. I don’t think our eyes can handle it, they’ve never had to adjust to light like that before: just various levels of dark.

“Hey, Nana? Is the sun thing supposed to be getting closer?” I point to the bright light as my mother looks up. Mother responds in Nana’s place.

“Yes sweetheart… it is.” She hesitates, “but it’s not supposed to.”

“Well if it’s not supposed to then what’s happening?” I say holding my hand over my eyes, the amount of light is hurting me. It’s quiet for a while before I feel her tug me closer into a hug.

“I love you sweetie……… but uhm, I don’t know” her warm arm is comforting but I can’t help but feeling something is wrong. It’s almost like she knew but didn’t want to tell me. Why wouldn’t she want to tell me? Is it just like when the sun disappeared and they don’t have an answer for this yet again strange phenomenon?

Then I realize what she wasn’t saying. I lean in closer and wrap one arm around her

“I love you too mom. Love you Nana”. After some time the rest of the teens run over and we all huddle together watching. I’m unsure who else realizes what’s about to happen.

But as I watch I realize something that thing is only headed for us. The teens. The ones born into darkness. Who knows no actual light, no sun. Looking around the others have realized it to and we’re all subconsciously moving away from the town.

Just as it’s about to hit I close my eyes. I couldn’t stand to watch. I’d rather have the light out again on my own terms and not it’s. I take a deep breath….

I sit up so quickly, sweating and not realizing exactly what happened. It takes me a second but I realize that I was dreaming. It was all a dream I catch my breath and look at the clock. I’m assuming it’s two or three a.m. because of how dark it is, but it actually says 11:43 a.m. I look outside the window and but its all dark.

I grab my TV remote and flip it to the news.

“Folks we’re not sure what’s happening but the sun did not rise this morning.” I don’t believe what’s happening. It was just a stupid dream. I’m awake but its, happening here too. My phone pings, it’s my sister texting me.

“Alex” and then quickly a second message “did you have that dream too?”