It's damn hot.\n\nYou're coated in sweat.\n\nWe are all coated in sweat.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last4]].

Charles' mom and dad turned themselves into piñatas, he tells us.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|par]].

Ok.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last]].

The political page has not been updated in weeks. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|pol2]].

You see helpless dry loss in my eyes. I have no words for Timmy.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last6]].

It feels like a pre-death obituary.\n\n \n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site1]].

It's hotter.\n\nSweat drips from your [[head|hot22]].\n\n

The [[sun|burn10]]light seeps across all horizons.\n\nIt bleeds into our night.\n\nWe rest on the dry grass out back.

It's burning.\n\nSweat evaporates from your entire being.\n\n\n\n\nYou have nothing to wipe from your [[head|burn3]].\n

We tell Timmy to go play in the sandbox [[outside|burn4]].

We tell Timmy to go play in the sandbox outside.\n\nBut it's too hot to play [[outside|burn5]], Timmy tells us.

We tell Timmy to go play in the sandbox outside.\n\nBut it's too hot to play outside, Timmy tells us.\n\nSo we lather him in the last of our [[sun|burn6]]screen.

The [[sun|burn7]]light seeps across all horizons.

The [[sun|burn8]]light seeps across all horizons.\n\nIt bleeds into our night.

We look back at the TV.\n\nImages of an expanding yellow orb absorbing a small green one play over and over on the news.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|image]].

Charles' parents come over.\n\nThey say the power will go out soon.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents2]].

The news anchor frowns.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShe wipes the sweat from her [[head|hot2]].

The [[sun|burn11]]light seeps across all horizons.\n\nIt bleeds into our night.\n\nWe rest on the dry grass out back.\n\nAnd Clifford's legs break,

The [[sun|burn12]]light seeps across all horizons.\n\nIt bleeds into our night.\n\nWe rest on the dry grass out back.\n\nAnd Cliford's legs break,\n\nAs the gravity becomes unbearable.

It's hotter.\n\nSweat drips from your head.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|school]].\n

The local school system stopped classes.\n\nWe throw a China themed party for Timmy, [[Charles|Charels]] and the [[Xiang twins]].\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|call]].

They also say that we should hurry,\n\nbeat the crowd,\n\nstock up on food.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents6]].

Mr. Xiang wipes the sweat from his head.\n\n"They say it'll take only five minutes to reach Mercury and four minutes to reach Venus," he tells us.\n\nHis boys, and Charles, wait behind him in a van, mattresses and boxes on top.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|outside3]].

Because of the orientation of Earth, gravity will be too great for the //Global Space Sanctuary// to launch from the Kennedy Space Center. The project has been canceled.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site1]].

The local school system stopped classes.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|party]].

I'm [[sinking|burn15]].\n\nTimmy says as he lies in the sandbox.

The opinion page is consumed by a single post; one long and sincere post, written by the staff. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|Opinion page2]].

I see helpless dry loss in your eyes. You have no words for Timmy.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last7]].

I see helpless dry loss in your eyes. You have no words for Timmy.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last6]].

You see helpless dry loss in my eyes. I have no words for Timmy.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last7]].

It's [[hotter|hot21]]. \n

We float on our sweat, slipping on the couch and across the floors. \n\nClifford never ceases his panting.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last6]].

We float on our sweat, slipping on the couch and across the floors. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last5]].

Why don't we go where the ice is?\n\nYou look at me for an [[answer|help3]].\n\nI look at you for an [[answer|help4]].\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last8]].

Why didn't we go north with the Xiangs?\n\nYou look at me for an [[answer|help]].\n\nI look at you for an [[answer|help2]].\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last7]].

It's damn hot.\n\nYou're coated in sweat.\n\nWe are all coated in [[sweat|last20]].

It's damn hot.\n\nYou're coated in [[sweat|last3]].

I'm thirsty, Timmy says.\n\nWe keep our water in sealed containers,\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last10]].

I'm thirsty, Timmy says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last9]].

Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes are our right hand neighbors.\nThey have one son named Charles.\nHe is Timmy's age.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|party]].

The water is lukewarm at its coolest. \n\nYour sister's call is over.\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|kitchen3]].

Mr. Xiang wipes the sweat from his head.\n\nThey say it'll take only five minutes to reach Mercury and four minutes to reach Venus, he tells us.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|outside2]].

The water is lukewarm at its coolest. \n\nYour sister's call is over.\n\nShe told us to check the news.\n\nWe boot up the computer, \nand sip our [[water|kitchen4]].

We go to the Last World News website.\n\n \n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site1]].

I talk to your sister.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|phone2 1]].

The opinion page is consumed by a single post; one long and sincere post, written by the staff. \n\nIt thanks all the readers for visiting the website, and explains that employees have been given the freedom to leave work and be with their loved ones.\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|op2]].

It's burning.\n\nSweat evaporates from your [[entire being|burn2]].

We look back at the TV.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|tv]].

They're on the living room floor, watching Kung-Fu movies.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|dog2]].

Ok.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|dog]].

\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThere is [[nothing]] we can do about the //Global Space Sanctuary//.

The world page links to the [[tech page|Tech page]] and restates that the //GSS// will not launch.\n \n\nA second headline reads: //Water Most Valuable Resource//.\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site3]].

The world page links to the [[tech page|Tech page]] and restates that the //GSS// will not launch.\n \n\n\nWe fill as many containers full of water as we can.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|site4]].

We check their:\n[[Tech page]]\n[[Political page]]\n[[Entertainment page]]\n[[Opinion page]]\n[[World page]]\n\nYou sip your [[water|site1]].

It's too [[hot|not1]]. \n

by James Earl Cox III

Timmy is our son.\nI am Jared, your husband.\nYou are you. \n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|why]].

We look back at the TV.\n\nImages of an expanding yellow orb absorbing a small green one play over and over on the news.\n\nThe caption read ‘Future may be //Too// Bright.’ \n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|frown]].

Timmy tugs at your shirt.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|why]].

It's [[hot|hot]]. \n\n\n

Don't look, we tell him.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe wipe the sweat from our [[heads|ok2]] and close the blinds.

The world page links to the [[tech page|Tech page]] and restates that the //GSS// will not launch.\n \n\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site2]].

Clifford is our dog.\nOur small dog. \nDogs can't sweat.\n\n\n\n\nClifford [[pants|dog]].

We look into each other's eyes.\n\nYou open your mouth to [[answer]].\n\nI open my mouth to [[answer]].\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|gaze]].

Your sister calls.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|call2]].

The political page has not been updated in weeks. \n\nThe last article published on politics centered on both major political candidates running on a strong [[//Global Space Sanctuary//|Tech page]] funding platform.\n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site1]].

We try to laugh through the gravity,\n\nAs his China floats off into [[space|burn18]].

We try to laugh through the [[gravity|burn17]],

Your sister calls.\n\nI go answer the phone.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|phone2]].

It's damn [[hot|last2]].\n

The [[sun|burn13]]light seeps across all horizons.\n\nIt bleeds into our night.\n\nWe rest on the dry grass out back.\n\nAnd Clifford's legs break,\n\nAs the gravity becomes unbearable.\n\nHe lets out a whimper.

I'm [[sinking|burn14]].

They also say that we should hurry,\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents4]].

Charles' parents come over.\n\nThey say the power will go out soon.\n\nThey say that the heat will ruin the circuits and shut down the power plants.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents3]].

\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou shake his wet hand and wave as they [[disappear]].

They also say that we should hurry,\n\nbeat the crowd,\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents5]].

We run to the store to buy precooked meals,\n\nbattery powered fans,\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents8]].

We run to the store to buy precooked meals,\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents7]].

Timmy tugs at your shirt when you get back.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents10]].

We run to the store to buy precooked meals,\n\nbattery powered fans,\n\nthe last bottle of sunscreen on the planet.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents9]].

Floats off into the sun.

It's hotter.\n\nSweat pours from your head.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|not3]].\n

The water is lukewarm at its coolest. \n\n \n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|kitchen1]].

They all look parched.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|dog5]].

They all look parched.\n\nWe all are parched.\n\n\n\n\nYou go to the kitchen to get everyone [[water|dog6]].

They're on the living room floor, watching Kung-Fu movies.\n\nClifford is with them.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|dog3]].

They're on the living room floor, watching Kung-Fu movies.\n\nClifford is with them.\n\nHe looks parched.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|dog4]].

It's hot.\n\nSweat pools on your head.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|son]].\n

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Charles' parents come over.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|parents]].

We look into each other's eyes.\n\nYou open your mouth to [[answer|par2]].\n\nI open my mouth to [[answer|par2]].\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|par]].

I'm sinking through to [[China|burn16]].

Your sister calls.\n\nYou check on the [[kids]].\n\nI answer the [[phone]] in the kitchen.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|call2]].

Burn Baby Burn

It's hot.\n\nSweat pools on your [[head|hotter]].\n\n

It's a surprise, we tell him.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe wipe the sweat from our [[heads|ok]].

The entertainment page is blank.\n\n \n\n\n\n\nYou sip your [[water|site1]].

\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe pour Timmy a glass of [[water|last16]].

It's [[burning|burn]].

Trying to run away if it knew what was happening.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last12]].

I'm thirsty, Timmy says.\n\nWe keep our water in sealed containers,\n\nafraid of it evaporating if it saw the sky.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last11]].

The piñatas next door had no shadow. \n\nThey almost touch the ground.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last15]].

The piñatas next door had no shadow. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|last13]].

Mr. Xiang is the neighbor to our left. \nHe has two sons: Luis and Paul.\nThey are Timmy's age and went to school with him,\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|Xiang twins2]].

My tongue makes that dry mouth sound as I talk to her.\n\nSo does hers on the other end of the line.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|phone26]].

My tongue makes that dry mouth sound as I talk to her.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|phone25]].

My tongue makes that dry mouth sound as I talk to her.\n\nSo does hers on the other end of the line.\n\nYour mouth is dry too.\n\n\nYou pour two glasses of [[water|dog6]].

Mr. Xiang is our neighbor. \nHe has two sons: Luis and Paul.\nThey are Timmy's age and went to school with him, when school was open.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|party]].

Why can’t [[we|family]] go to China with the Xiangs anymore?\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|gaze]].

I talk to your sister.\n\nYou can't hear what she says, but you know she's upset.\n\nIt sounds like she's crying.\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|phone24]].

It's too hot.\n\nSweat pours from your [[head|not2]].\n\n

Mr. Xiang wipes the sweat from his head.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|outside]].

I talk to your sister.\n\nYou can't hear what she says, but you know she's upset.\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|phone23]].

Ok.\n\nTimmy goes back to playing with [[Clifford|clifford]].\n\n\n\n\nYou wipe the sweat from your [[head|news]].