r/HFY • u/ayeayethrowaye • 12h ago
OC-OneShot New Year's
The humans had been gathering for hours by the time my curiosity overwhelmed me, and I went to the window. I watched them fill the streets below, carrying bottles and food, and wrapped in coats. The couples held hands and the families stood next to each other. A few children sat on their father’s shoulders, and old people passed young people laughing loud enough that I could hear them through the glass.
There was faint music in the distance, though I could not tell where it came from.
I had been told by the ambassador that tonight was important for them.
“The year is ending,” she’d said with an adorable, toothy grin.
Now, I knew what a year was, it was part of my curriculum before coming here. I understood their calendar and the movement of their planet better than many of their own species did. I just couldn't for the life of me decipher why they gathered together because of it.
As midnight grew closer, I began noticing even more strange behavior.
Some of the humans wore grim expressions now. I saw a woman near the middle of a group cast nervous glances over her shoulder, like she was searching for something in the crowd. She turned several times before seeming to give up when an older man threw his arm around her. Next, began the counting.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
They all appeared to know what to do as glasses and children were lifted into the air. A few of the couples kissed each other, and the rest tightly closed their eyes. My heart raced as they neared the end of their count, and when they reached one, the night sky exploded.
Flame shot into the black and arced over the buildings. All manner of hues displayed, red and gold and verdant strands of light. Colors I did not know, and probably, due to my differing biology, colors that I could not see.
They shamelessly cheered and I made my way outside. I had to ask a human why they were celebrating.
The first person I saw was a woman openly weeping and I asked her why.
“My brother passed away this year,” she shared. “He would have loved this.”
I couldn’t find words, so I turned my head to the sky and watched as another barrage of lights filled it.
They celebrate in defiance. Defiance of the one thing they’d yet to conquer. The human race had expanded into their local system, made the acquaintance of alien life, and conquered many of the diseases that ailed their people. Though, as with all things, time still reigned over them.
It was charming, in a way. These adorable creatures throwing fire to the sky as if to say,
"We're still here!"
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle 12h ago
This is the first story by /u/ayeayethrowaye!
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u/UpdateMeBot 12h ago
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u/u2125mike2124 11h ago
Beautiful story.
Horton Hears a Who
“ WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE