“Power low, 15% battery remaining!” was the message that methodically popped up, in the same spot of my screen as every other time I had received a notification.

“If I don’t charge it soon it’s gonna die within minutes,” I said audibly.

“Power low, charge soon,” said the pop up reminder.

“How am I gonna contact or reach my family if it’s dead?” I say to myself as I start to panic.

“Power low, nearing system shutdown. 10% battery remaining,” said a message that popped up in the center of the screen this time.

I send out my last messages before my battery is finally gone. A voice note to my wife and daughter. “Dad loves you, okay? Make sure you have a good day for me. You’re gonna do wonderful things. I can feel it,” I say then finish up my message by talking to my wife about the situation I have found myself in.

“5% battery remaining. Find an external power source, or charge urgently.” read the message in red on the center of the device.

I recorded my last message to the world as the ship’s power drained and the airlocks began to fail and turn off one by one. I remained in the center room as I ended the recording and sent it out for the world to see. I watched as power began to shut off in the main console and the reflection of the mirror in front of me as the airlock behind me started to lose power and slowly creak open. Sucking all the air out of the room and then my lungs. 5 years up here and no one attempted to come get any of the previous 10 crew even once. Our ship was designed to fail from day one. Get data, send it back to earth, let them rot in space forever, or until they die. Whatever comes first.

“System failure. Commencing shutdown operations. Full system shutdown in 5… 4… 3… 2…”

Then silence.