As he had for decades past, Hector knocked on our doors to hand deliver us our morning papers. A sweet old man, he continued working well past retirement age because he simply loved the opportunity to share small conversations with all the citizens of our quaint village. Before it all started, his love of small talk was an endearing trait. But now, it would become his most dire flaw. “Quite the commotion last night, huh?” he said to us. We responded with silence. We all knew

Author: Rosalind Adams Originally appeared in Black Hole News: Communication, June 2026.

In 2076, the night sky is gone, having been sold to the highest bidder as ad-satellites. All but one protected patch over Texas remains, kept clear by members of the Texas Star Guard who are authorized to shoot down anything that drifts in. A quiet story about guarding the last real view of the stars and the paperwork that comes along with it.