"An atom that normally emits light will cease emitting when its surroundings become incapable of absorbing that light. Thus one event (emission) depends on some

"An atom that normally emits light will cease emitting when its surroundings become incapable of absorbing that light. Thus one event (emission) depends on something that does or doesn't happen in the future (absorption)." What role does relativity play in this discussion? From the point of view of a photon, there is no lapse in time between emission and absorption. Emission and absorption happens instantaneously, since time never "ticks" for the photon as it traverses space. So, at least from the photon's point of view, there is no need to evoke the past/future causality in this situation.