1 The last day

"Hey Dimitri, tell me what you plan to do when you get home?"

Dimitri, a cosmonaut who was leaning against the wall, turned his head and looked at his American companion.

"I plan to travel to kyiv to see my mother. Since I started studying in Moscow, I haven't been able to see her."

Using his hand, Dimitri wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I'll also propose to that beautiful military nurse I met in my training.

I think her name was Irina, a beautiful woman with golden hair and beautiful blue eyes.

But since you asked what an American who has already spent months in space intends to do once he reaches the land of the freedom."

The astronaut just laughed. "I'm thinking of going to a McDonald's to eat a delicious cheeseburger and a cold Coke.

After that I would like to travel to the country on a Harley Davidson. I imagine riding the beautiful roads while the air cools my face..."

The astronaut interrupted his words when the board of the ship began to produce a noise.

"I guess it's time to talk to headquarters for our daily section on coping with death in space."

The cosmonaut started laughing "Who would have thought that one day a Soviet and an American would receive psychological help from a German woman.

I think times are changing too fast."

The astronaut just smiled and started walking towards the control board where he pressed a button.

"Welcome to Burger King. Tell me what menu you plan to order miss."

"Guten morgen Jesper, I'm glad to see you're in the mood to joke around. Guten morgen for you too, Dimitri."

"Yes, yes, Guten morgen for you too, Marta."

"I hope you are ready for your daily self-improvement session. Remember that in this place, we can talk about anything you want.

No one will interrupt us or be able to listen to them because this is a unique service authorized by the government of the URSS and the United States of America.

Tell me, gentlemen, how are you feeling facing death?"

Dimitri laughed and looked sadly out the spaceship window.

"We are stranded in a spaceship adrift, headed for the sun with no chance of moving.

We only have 2 days before solar radiation and heat turn this ship into a furnace where we will die in the most horrible ways possible.

We've tried our best to correct the spacecraft's course, but it's no use.

We are just wandering to our deaths in this place abandoned of any possible form of life."

"That's it Dimitri, get out all your anger and frustration. Remember that anger is part of overcoming grief.

You should not feel that everything will be painful, because you know well that in the spaceship there are enough painless ways to end your life.

It is a decision that I will help you two make these days and you should not worry because I will make sure that all your messages reach your families.

Just try to relax and enjoy these last few moments with smiles on your face.

Do you want to listen to a song so you can relax?"

Dimitri who was already floating in the spaceship looked out the window at the dark and imposing space.

"My father played a song by a Mexican in Berlin. I think the song was called Besame Mucho.

I'd like to hear it."

"..."

The radio was silent for a few seconds before a song began to play.

'Bésame, bésame mucho

Como si fuera esta noche la última vez.'

Dimitri who was remembering his childhood in kyiv could only cry silently while humming that song that brought back memories of his childhood.

'Quiero tenerte muy cerca.

Mirarme en tus ojos, verte junto a mí…'

Jesper who was also listening to the song watched as tears floated around Dimitri who was singing the song at the top of his lungs.

As the song came to an end, Dimitri sighed and turned his head to look at Jesper. "I guess it's your turn."

Jesper just smiled and looked at the command console with some wistfulness.

"The usual song, please Marta."

At that moment, a beautiful song began to play.

'We'll meet again. Don't know where, don't know when.

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day…'

After this, the two men continued listening to music until it was time to sleep, so enduring the heat, they fell asleep.

The next day and being the last day they had to enjoy their lives, the two men decided to spend it looking into space while eating some food.

"You know, I think the only good thing about dying in space is that I will see my parents.

They died when I was just a child, so I hope there is life after death.

Although I think I am very far from heaven, in space."

Dimitri patted his mate on the back. "At least you believe in something after death.

I only hope that my name will not be forgotten in the annals of history.

Being the first humans to reach the sun has a unique merit. I believe that being remembered in this way is the best thing that can happen to us.

At least our nations won't have to fight over stupid things for a few days while they cry over us.

A cosmonaut and an astronaut, who ended up together in an adventure that will surpass Virgilio in his journey through hell."

"Haha, you have a great future as a writer Dimitri, but you're right this is an adventure that the best way to face it is abroad.

What do you say one last spacewalk after taking our pills to end it all?"

Dimitri smiled and looked seriously at his partner.

"If I am a writer, you are a poet, but I agree with your idea."

The two men enjoyed their last meal, drank as much water as they could, and downed their cocktail of pills so they could die.

They donned their suits and Jesper walked over to the command console.

"Astronaut Jesper here, just to report that we took the pills. Now we just want to do our last spacewalk.

Don't cry for us, just remember our names. We were two humans who were born on earth and died in space.

Two pioneers and two men who embarked on a journey to the sun so that no one else will ever do it again."

After this, the two men opened the door of the spaceship and went out into space, where they floated for the last time.

While they looked at the imposing sun that made them look like two small ants.

"Are you seeing that Jesper is beautiful and so warm."

Dimitri, not hearing his partner's answer, turned his head and looked at him floating in space with his head down.

"I guess you beat me and embarked on the adventure without me first.

But don't worry, I'm right behind you."

At that moment, Dimitri began to convulse and closed his eyes never to open them again.

In his hand, he carried a photo of his family, which floated into space before it was consumed by the heat of the sun.

Taking with it the last proof that the two men had been in that place.