"Only Time Will Tell" by Patricia Stewart from 365 Tomorrows is a plain spoken, science fiction story set in outer space. It is told in first person through an unknown woman's eyes. Six volunteers travel to a planet, Telles, near Alpha Centauri A believed to be slightly behind Earth in technological advances. 312 years into the mission they arrive at Telles, only to find that the planet no longer has life. In the end, the author wonders about the ability of humans to escape destroying themselves. But the only conclusion she can draw is that "only time will tell."
This quick tale is a nice read, partly because it is so short. It also amazes me that anyone can rattle off a story with so few words. The fact that is told in first person allows it to get away with the rhetorical questions at the end. They are a bit heavy-handed for me, despite the fact that I really enjoy shoving those types of things into another's face. Overall, a good read. This site manages to bring out a new (albeit very, very short) story everyday.
Enjoy the story here: http://www.365tomorrows.com/05/15/only-time-will-tell/