The Ghost in Me - Chain my Soul

4

I wake up all confused the next morning and once again try to go through the motions like a robot. I step out of the bath and dry myself off, get dressed and go over to examine my bedroom window. I try desperately to remember if I left it open. The answer isn't comforting, so I pretend to have seen nothing. I decide to set a trap; I want to see what he does when he comes into my room. I pull out an old video camera and hide it among the stuffed animals crowding my bookshelf. Tonight, before going to sleep, I'll turn it on and finally discover the truth.

I go to the kitchen to eat breakfast and then settle in on the couch in the living room. I decide to call in sick to work at the ER. I know I shouldn't and that they need my help; there are sick and injured patients to care for... but I can't bring myself to leave the house. I'm not in the right state of mind to be useful at the moment. What's more, is that I'm truly afraid he'll come to find me, and ironically, my house seems like the safest place to be today, even knowing that he broke in again without setting off the alarm.

Sipping on some hot tea, I turn on the TV without surfing the channels. I just want to have the background noise to keep me company and maybe distract me from my thoughts. They're playing a cartoon I loved when I was a kid. I sit there and just try to zone out while staring at the screen not really processing anything. I'm completely still, but the images of that man pop into my head like a digital slideshow. I can't help but ask myself the same questions: Who is he? Why was he so mad when he saw me with Luke? Why do I feel like I belong to him somehow? I'm only able to answer one of those questions. I'm probably very lucky I was able to jump in that taxi before he got to me. I'm not sure if I ever would have made it home otherwise.

Suddenly, the cartoons are interrupted for a breaking news announcement. I immediately focus on the TV and listen to President Barker.

"Citizens of America... the conflict between the US and Russia has worsened. Our beloved country could face nuclear attack if we are not able to resolve our differences in some other manner. I ask you to remain calm and to refrain from seeking fallout shelters. Over the course of the next few days, the entire US population will be supplied with anti-radiation suits. We have already built shelters for all those in need. They will be active in the next few weeks. At this time, we must unite and help one another. Stay strong. The government will provide aid as needed. May God protect us and bless the United States of America."

Suddenly, all my problems have vanished, and I've fallen into a state of alarm. I have no idea what to think so I call my mother. "Mom, did you see the announcement on TV? What are we going to do? Can you believe this? A nuclear attack?!"

My mother stays silent for a moment and then, "...Calm down, honey." The tremble in her voice cancels out any chance of actually calming me. "We have a plan... Dad and I will be home in a couple hours."

She hangs up the phone and I repeat her words in my head. We have a plan. But what will happen if things go that far? How many people will die at the hands of two governments unable to co-exist? What will happen to my life and the world around us? Is this why I went into medicine? Why I've made it my mission to learn to fight? Is it my destiny to end up in a post-nuclear apocalypse? I have to be ready. I have to know what future lies ahead of us.

I decide to do some research and my fingers quickly type in "nuclear bomb effects."

After about half an hour of reading, I've learned many terrifying but interesting facts to help me prepare for impending disaster.

I make a list of survival items needed in the event of a nuclear attack:

l Non-perishable food and bottled water

l Various types of medicine

l First aid kits stocked for all emergencies

l Faraday cages to protect devices from electromagnetic pulses set off by bomb