Lights off
They pulled over quickly on a country road. It was almost time. All the lights from the surrounding cities were about to be turned off.
It was the fifth year since small groups within different governments had agreed to create a holiday where, at ten o’clock sharp, every light in the city would go dark.
For one hour, the cities would stop. The only spectacle left would be the universe above.
This year, every major city within range had agreed to participate. No light pollution. No distant glow on the horizon.
They pulled the chairs from the trunk and sat down, starting the countdown together.
“…two… one.”
A wave of darkness rolled across the horizon.
They waited a few moments for their eyes to adjust, then looked up.
An explosion of stars and constellations filled the sky.
On balconies across every city, people stepped outside and looked up at the universe.
