What Happened Tomorrow

How to live without you?

"Attention. Curfew is in effect. All citizens must proceed to their homes immediately. Curfew violation is punishable by law."

They came. They took everything. Our home. Our friends. Our loved ones. They took our lives. They just showed up, told us how we were wrong for living the way we had, and banned it all. Those who resisted? Executed. Now, everyone lives "right." But who the hell needed that war? What kind of idiot thought we needed to die for... what? What, huh? Let me tell you — nothing.

Then that same idiot decided we needed to surrender. It was easier. It made sense. After all, we're all human. But somewhere along the way, they forgot what it means to be human. Human isn't just about empathy, sweetness, and all that bullshit. We're predators. And when we're backed into a corner, we fight. And they came. Those bastards, full of hate, not because we did something to them, but because we exist. Yeah, I know we hated them too, so maybe it's fair. Eye for an eye.

When she died, my world ended. There was nothing left. She was taken, arrested, executed for "illegal resistance cooperation." But really? She refused to sleep with that bastard, the District Commander. He was the one who raised a white flag when the new regime came in, the first to sell out, and of course, they gave him control. He took everything he could — no boundaries. No "no" was ever good enough.

I've known her forever. We were always together. I remember this one time, we were like, five, and got lost in the city. It was terrifying. I thought we were done for, no one was gonna find us. But she didn't panic. She stayed optimistic. Even when the world was dark, she'd find the light. That's how we were. That's how we stayed.

Then 2022 hit. We thought after the pandemic, things were gonna get better, right?Nope. It was then that our so-called invincible country declared a stupid war. Like many others, I was drafted. Hell, I volunteered. She tried to stop me. She argued, told me the war wasn't about justice, or human rights, or anything they fed us in the news. She said it was a scam, a way for the government to line their pockets and keep their power. The economy was failing, the pandemic had wiped us out, and this was their way of saving their asses.

And me? Stupid, patriotic asshole. I signed up. "It's my duty." What a joke. Three years later, they EMP'd us. Worse than a nuke. The world shut off. People couldn't cook a meal, couldn't charge their damn phones. No TV, no internet. The pride, the economy, all that crap? Doesn't matter. And that's not even the worst of it. 2025 hit, and the depression was a walk in the park compared to what happened after the market crash. No electricity, no jobs, no money. Just nothing. And then, the President? He sent the troops. Whoopee.

Before that, I got hurt. They said I was lucky to be alive. A concussion, they said. It was nothing serious, just an excuse to pull me out of the field. But at the time? Everyone acted like I was gonna die. She wanted to enlist and be with me, but I'm glad she didn't. It would've been a mistake, but she almost made it anyway.

Now she's gone. And I don't know how to keep going. What's the point? Everything I cared about is gone. Gone, and it's never coming back. This isn't living. Not without her. I'm just... here. Breathing, but that's it.

***

A soft breeze hits my face. I can see our city from here. It used to be beautiful. What is it now? Destroyed, filthy, oppressed. And most importantly, she's not here. Soon enough, I won't be either. One step, and I'll be with her. Maybe. I don't care. I'm taking that step.

Alexander Stone

San Francisco Zone 5

12/07/2026

***

Federal Agency for Utilization of Subtemporal Transactions

Inter-dimensional Department

Report date: 10/15/2514

Alternate Reality Description: Warfare between the Cino-Russian Alliance and NATO nations in the early alt-2020s, Alliance victory; military dictatorship and partition of the United States; severe technological decline; nuclear exchange between Russia and China anticipated by the alt-2050s.

Name: JL0714

Verdict: Time-flow slower than in our reality. Further transitions suspended.

Development prospects: Low

Interference: Does not appear necessary or beneficial.