Transmission #1

Hello, I am a human. It has been 12,445 solar days since my birth. It has been 3,887 solar days since the end of the world (as predicted by the ancient Maya civilization.)

I wonder if they were right, and the past 11 years have just been a dream.

Sometimes the dream is a nightmare. The planet is burning and the air is unbreathable. This week, my family has been hiding in the basement from tornadoes.

I spend more and more time hiding inside, staring at a screen, trying to connect with other humans. So far my efforts have been largely unsuccessful.

I do not have a mate, and am now probably too old to acquire one. This makes me feel lonely.

But I am lucky in ways other humans are not. I'm closer to the flora and fauna of this planet. Many humans believe these life forms cannot be communicated with, but I talk to them every day. They are my friends.

In the morning, I walk outside and say hello to my Sugar Maple friends. I ask them about the night they had, when the wind rushed through their leaves and the Great Horned Owls hid in their branches.

In the afternoon, I look out my window and say hello to my Carolina Wren friend. I ask him about the storm, when the sky flashed bright white and the sound shook the ground.

In the evening, I sit on the porch and say hello to my Wolf Spider friend. I ask her about the eggs she'll soon lay, when the weather is cooler and the nights become longer.

Then it's time to go to sleep and have the dream again.