Dearest Enemy

"Dearest Enemy" by Fox B. Holden is a science fiction story set during a time of space exploration and rising tensions that looks closely at themes of being alone, war, and what it means to be human. We follow Major Joshua Thorn, who is on a space mission when something terrible happens: Earth and all of humanity are wiped out. Dealing with the possibility that he is the last person alive, Thorn discovers a new world on Venus. There, he meets another person, but this person is an enemy soldier. In a tragic moment, Thorn's training kicks in, and he kills the stranger. This action highlights the sad reality of war and brings up questions about who we are, who we are loyal to, and what being human really means when everything is gone.