A Living Nightmare

Every day, since last week I've been assigned to do this job. Can’t even complain, I asked for it after all, even though I never wanted it. Back then, I felt like it would be too hard for the others. I sigh and opened the door, looking downstairs. I counted how much remained. Then I closed the door and went back to where everyone was having breakfast.

Mom handed over a plate. Yesterday it was two sharing a bread. Today, it's four. I wonder about tomorrow.

Grandma looked at me. Waiting for me to report my duty.
"I think it stopped rising, the water... For now."
Maybe, lying helps. I’m not sure. But then we hardly have any conversation otherwise.
She went back to check on grandpa. He is sick, has been getting worse for 3 days. As for mom, she is alone and still waiting for my dad to come back.

My older sister looked at me and asked, "How much? 3 more steps?"
I shook my head, "One more." I could never lie to her.
She looked horrified but what else could I say. It’s just a matter of time. Everyone will know soon enough.

Outside, the heavy rain continued.
.
I wonder how long we can live like this in the attic. Not only is there nothing here, nor do we have enough space or food for five. No way to contact anyone. There is only one window here and that’s how the place is lit. Nobody else dares to look out because it's like a nightmare now.

We are surrounded by water, trapped, and there are no other living souls around.

I climbed out of the window to the roof. I saw a stick floating by. We used to use that as a stump to play cricket. I don't know what happened to 'them', the rest of my friends. As I watch, the stick gets stuck in a tree branch. That tree horrifies me. When dad left to find help, I never saw him cross that tree.

"Hey, give me a hand." My sister stretched out her hands and I pulled her up. We sat silent for a while, staring at the tree.
"Do you think he will come back?"
I shook my head slightly in uncertainty.
"Are we all gonna die here?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Maybe."
"Aren't you scared?"
"I don't know. Maybe not."
"Why?"
"Everyone we know in this place is gone. What if dad is never gonna come back? I just feel like it’s better if we die here too."

"Aaaa..." We heard a loud cry from inside. We climbed back and ran. Mom looked traumatized. Grandma sat in a corner holding grandpa's hand. He was still.

I ran back to the roof. This was better. I sat there for hours getting drenched in the rain. But I couldn't cry.
.

When I climbed back finally, my grandma was hugging my mom and sister on either side. I stood by the door, waiting and she looked at me and said, "If someone comes to help. Don't worry about me. Save yourself. I will stay with him."
I don't think anyone will come. We only have a few hours remaining, if the way it is raining continues.
.

I woke up with a start and got up. It was cold and I was wet. I could hear the water gushing through. The entire floor was full of water. My sister looked at me and said, "This is it. I guess it's all gonna be over."

"No..nooo.. "I looked out through the window. "We have to get to the roof." I grabbed her hand.
"There is no point in doing this. We are all gonna die here."
I believed her. I knew it but I couldn’t stop, "But we have to try, please. "
.

It wasn't that easy. Mom and grandma refused too. "Please grandma. Please. If you will just hear me out. Please, they will too."  Seeing the truth in that, she agreed. For them, not for her.

When the three of us got up on the roof, I held out my hand to grandma.
She looked at me, "I'm sorry. I don't think I can do it but I do believe in you." She closed the window from inside.
"Hey...hey. grandma... what are you doing. GRANDMA"
She walked away, "No.no..no. Grandmaaa."
.

My sister tried tending to my wounds, which I had gotten, foolishly trying to break open the window, "We could have stayed inside. This place is like living a nightmare."

I stared at the sky.  Not a single drop of light. I felt like death was near already.  And like she said, it was scary. It probably was midnight. I could hear my mom's and sister's voices. How could anyone sleep after all?  We were all waiting for a sunrise that we may never see.
.
Hours kept passing. My eyes were heavy and I felt like I was passing out. I could see fog and between the leaves, I saw a yellow light. I stared for some time.  I could hear sounds. I couldn't move enough to check as slowly everything just faded away.
.

I felt warm when I opened my eyes. I was lying on the edge of a boat covered by blankets. There were many people around me. My eyes went through everyone and I paused when I saw him.

I ran, trying to hug him and feel him finally after so long. "Dad." I couldn't find any more words as I cried my eyes out.