I keep my eyes straight ahead, walking down the road. I feel strange but normal because I do this everyday, but strange because of my posture, as if I am a soldier, stern and sharp, marching down the road that is covered with ice. The wind bellowing in my ears, I flinch slightly at its cold caress, as it freezes the blood in my ears. Stepping briskly on patches of ice that I can barely see in the dark winter morning. Even wearing two sweatshirts the cold could kill, it must be another 1-degree morning. I walk out onto the main road, cars cruising by my side as I reach the light post that marks my bus stop. I stare up at the sky, its rich with stars and the occasional airplane making its departure from Bradley Field, I imagine that must be all that happens at Bradley; departures, because its too damn cold to want to come back.
“Damn, where is Kathy?” I speak the words aloud to myself, there’s nobody around to hear them anyway. “I hate waking up at 5:30, and I hate standing out in the cold cause’ she cant pick a time to get here”. I stare into the sky and notice a larger plane, I can almost make out its silhouette in the dark, its lights flashing as it floats above my small city, its probably a military plane, they always fly from the airbase we have here. I watch it until it is out of sight, its fast for a such a large plane. I stare towards the center of town which is miles from me, and suddenly I see a blinding ball of light erupt up from, and the entire sky is illuminated as if the sun suddenly appeared in the middle of town. The light is so bright its burning my eyes, so I shield my face with my arm. Blue and red and yellow and green dance in my head, like when you press you fists into your eyes as a child, except my eyes are open. Slowly they clear, and I can begin to make out a cloud above the town, its highlighted with red and yellow in certain areas, bright enough to illuminate the entire cloud. I hear screams of terror, until a massive gut wrenching boom erupt through me, leaving my ears, I feel something wet on the side of my face, I run my hand along it and hold my hand into the light to find its blood.
The trees all shake as an invisible force breaks off limbs of trees and parts of houses and throws cars as it races towards me. It hits me like a brick wall. Suddenly im on the ground, I can barely breath, my heart pounding, adrenalin coursing through my veins. I turn and run, away from town, away from my home, my family, everything, I don’t know what to do, where I’m running, or even what Im running from, but I don’t stop to think. I see more bursts of light in the distance, an artificial sunrise, my ears still tingling and ringing. By vision blurred, I realize I have begun crying, tears and blood streaming down my face. The ringing slowly fades as I run, my heartbeat filling my ears now, along with the purring engine of trucks. I don’t know what they are doing, then I spot one. It’s a military truck, it has a gun mounted on the roof that could probably pierce any metal. There is a man standing outside the truck, dressed in full military fatigues, when a civilian man approaches, his hair grey with age, and face wrinkled. “What’s going on? What was that?” He demands. The soldier stands for a second and stares at the old man, as I get closer to the truck. The soldier pulls a gun and points it the man’s head. “What are you doing? Why are you doing this?” His voice shaking, frenzied, I stop walking. “No, pleas-“ A single shot rings out, electrifying the air. The man falls, to his knees for a brief second, then slumps on the ground, lifeless.
I flee, into the woods that flank each side of the road. Trudging through the snow, breaking off small limbs of trees as I go. What is happening? Its as if the world has suddenly started spinning off kilter, the military no longer protect the people, they shoot them. The world is falling apart as far as I can see. I know from experience this forest isn’t very big, big enough to get lost in if you’ve never been in it before, so it would confuse anyone who is following me, but I will get out. I can see the sun start to rise through the leafless trees. Its beautiful, it sets the sky on fire and for a moment I forget the bombs, and the man slumped in the road. Its just like any other morning.
I stop and realize I don’t know where I’m going. Where is there too go? Will all of the military be like him, murders, killing civilians in the streets? Or is he rogue? Has he gone off the defend? I see houses through the trees, there are no lights on, its hard to imagine they could be asleep still though, so I decide ill try anyway. I reach the house and look onto the street for any military trucks, there are none. The neighborhood looks untouched, unspoiled, and suddenly I wish I could still be waiting for the bus that will never come, the cold being my only problem. I knock on the door. No response. I knock again, “Hello? Is anyone there? I need help. Please.” My voice trembles on its way out, I feel as scared as it sounds, but then I stop close my eyes and breathe for a moment, and regain my composure. What if they’re dead? What if they went outside and were shot too? My head begins to race again, going through all the ways whoever lives in this house could have met their end. I latch clicks and the door creeks open and reveals the face of a young woman, she’s about 18 by the looks of her, two years older than me. Her eyes are pale grey, they are receded into her head and they dart from my face to the outside and back again. The door barely open. “Wha- What do you want?” her voice breaking as she speaks, you can hear how scared she is. “ I need some help, please, can I come in” My voice sounds stronger now, and it occurs to me that maybe I should try to make it weak again, then maybe she would let me in and help me. Its too late now, she’s already heard. “Jennifer, what are you doing?!” Suddenly she is pushed aside and an older woman takes her place, her forehead wrinkled, she has wrinkles across her face and she as at least sixty. Her eyes are piercing, a vibrant green and blue combination as she bores holes into my skull. “I’m so sorry, we cant help you, please leave” She begins to close the door and as she does suddenly I step forward, my foot blocking the doors path. Im surprised by myself, I don’t know what possessed me to do that, and now that I have been brave, I must remain brave. I stand firm. “Please ma’am, I need your help, I’m bleeding” I turn my head so she can see the blood running down the side of my face, it has now dripped onto my shoulder, I’m surprised it hasn’t clotted yet. I stare into her eyes for what seems like an eternity. I feel like im drifting into them, they’re consuming me. I stand my ground. “Fine” she says as she pulls the door open, and moves to the side allowing me in. “ Thank you, so much” I say as I push past her into the house.
