Neither machines nor prophecies warned us. It’s been two centuries since Earth suffered a decade of pelting by radioactive rubble from an exploded sun.
During the first months, humans dug underground habitations – and that’s where we’ve stayed. Most surface life that wasn’t allowed in or able to survive died out. The rest adapted like we did. Who knew that fungi would be our partners in survival? It filtered out radiation from water, provided food, and generated electricity.
We live in darkness. Surface stories are kept alive through our art. We know one day we will return.
[97 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the receptive host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
I hope they kept a seed bank to restock the earth
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Me too! Seeds can lay dormant in soil for a long time, waiting to sprout again, even if they didn’t have time to do it.
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After the last few months, it’s so much easier to identify with the sentiments in this piece. Lovely take on the prompt.
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Thank you, Sandra.
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Good story Li.
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Thank you, Sadje 🙂
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A pleasure Li
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Dear LIsa,
Let’s just home the virus doesn’t drive us underground. Doesn’t seem like a pleasant existence. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I hope not also. Thank you.
Shalom,
Lisa
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I’m glad they are confident that they will return one day. I’m not sure I would serve their confidence! Good story.
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Thank you, Iain.
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Surface stories are kept alive through our art. What a great concept ~ surface stories. This flows very nicely. A long history wrapped up in 100-words.
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Thank you much, Alicia.
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it’s a future we’re not looking forward to. hopefully, it doesn’t happen in our lifetime. 🙂
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Thanks for reading and your comment. Same here!
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A dystopic vision – but with some hope for the future. Gee, sounds like 2020 🙂
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Exactly, Dora 🙂
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Oh wow, Li. I love the power of your imagination. Great tale!
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Thank you, Shweta.
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I love a good sci-fi story, and that was a good one.
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Thank you and glad you enjoyed it.
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Good take on the prompt. Living underground becomes the new normal…
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Thank you, Penny.
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The troglodytes shall inherit the earth, literally! Good stuff, brilliantly observed
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Shrawl, many thanks!
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Let me have my Beatles albums underground please…
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🙂
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Mole says they are getting smaller each decade.
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Great story! Devastation with a sliver of hope.
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Why thank you 🙂
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A lovely story of survival and co-existence. Seems almost possible. Nicely done, Lisa.
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Thank you, Jolly.
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You ended on an optimistic note – just what we need right now!
Here’s mine!
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Thank you, Keith, yes we do.
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No Sun? Oh, dear. The end is certainly near. Nicely composed. 🙂
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Bill, not Sol, some other sun many light years away. Thank you much and glad you liked the story.
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🙂 Whew. Close call.
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🙂
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I love the surface stories reference…hope this isn’t a peek into the new world….wait, maybe we’re almost already there.
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We’ll have to wait and see…
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I wonder what they will be returning to, though? Nice one!
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Thanks, I wonder also…
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I’m not sure I’d want to live like that, without the light. Great story and I think you’re right about the funghi.
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Thanks for reading and your comment.
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Kind of reminds me of a relative I have that is living with dementia… she’s already in the dark and it is only her memories that seem to sustain her.
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Wonderful comparison, Jules.
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What a creepy, yet fascinating story. Saved by fungus. Who knew?
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Add it to your survival tips journal. You never know…
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This could easily be seen as a metaphor. We’ve certainly been driven “underground” in the last several months. Good storytelling 🙂
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Thank you very much, Linda.
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Nice. Sounds like the ultimate ‘survivor’ show. Our middle-age sun is about halfway through its lifetime, another 5 billion years to go 😉
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Subroto, the sun in the story is not Sol.
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Intriguing! Although a bit cold?
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Going through the motions, in the dark, trying to keep hope alive. It’s not exactly warm fuzzies, is it.
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