Alone

ALONE

The last thing I remember is a bright light and smoke. Before that I was taking a walk through the park. Relaxing, smelling the flowers, soaking up the fresh spring air and saturating myself with the sun’s vitamin D.

Trying to lift my head, I don’t know what happened, it’s fuzzy, as if there are tiny grains of sand in my eyes and no matter how much I rub them, I just cannot clear my memory. It’s frustrating.

“Help! Someone please help me!” But no one comes. I try to stand up but cry out in pain. I look down and see a large piece of wood in my leg. Before pulling it out, I look around for something to wrap around my leg…a rag, that will work. Tearing off a long strip, I tie it around my leg. I count to three and scream bloody horror as I pull it out. It hurt like hell. I quickly wrap another sheet strip around my leg tightly and tear off another and wrap that around my wound.

I pushed myself to stand. It hurt like hell, but I managed. I looked around. It was eerily quiet. The devastating damage burned my eyes. Everything was flat, rubble piled high, and smoke is escaping through all the wreckage.

“Hello!” Nothing. Not even an echo. Flashes of chaos flood my brain, but none makes any sense. My mouth feels like cotton, and I know I should be hungry, but I have no appetite. I grab a long and sturdy stick to use as a cane, and I start walking. I don’t know where, I can’t tell north from south at this point.

Beyond the horizon I notice there is a building still standing. Most are crumpled but there is one building which still looks complete, as though it got missed in the battle. So, I go towards it. It looks to be a couple of miles away but what choice do I have. Maybe there is at least water and food.

Weird I don’t see anyone, no persons dead or alive. Like everyone disappeared. Not even animals or birds…no flowers…not even bugs. Nothing. So, am I the only one here? The only one who survived this…war? I keep walking keeping my eyes on that building, maybe other survivors are there? Maybe they need help or are being held prisoner. I must try.

I can’t distinguish the road from the terrain…I just keep my eye on my goal…to get to the building and continue making a beeline towards it. It’s rough climbing over trash and concrete chunks.

I am looking as I go along for any tools or supplies I could use or maybe someone that could be buried underneath all the rubble. Nothing yet. It’s as if all life disappeared.

After walking for a while, I could feel my wound swelling and stinging. There is a crushed car ahead…I go there, at least I could sit and take a small rest.

Opening the car door took some strength…strength I didn’t know I had. Keys are still in the ignition. I found a bottle of water…thank goodness. I slug it down. In the backseat, a shirt. I took it and changed the bloody rags I tied around my leg earlier. The bleeding seemed to slow.

I continue my quest to reach that building. To try and pass the time and keep my mind off the eerie quietness of what used to be my hometown, I start singing some of my favorite songs. It was working because before I knew it I was a couple hundred yards away from the building and I start walking faster and the pain seems to dissipate.

I burst through the door with excitement hoping to find survivors. Empty. I limp my way upstairs…nothing. Maybe the basement and they are locked up. I’m just trying to keep up hope. I don’t want to believe I would be the last human on earth.

I had to pass through the kitchen to get to the basement. I flip the light switch. Strangely, there is electricity here. But how can that be? I open the frig door…food. Lots and lots of food. Sandwich meat, salads, water, soda, pie. I grab it all, clear the table with my elbow and drop everything. I found bread, I smelled it…still fresh, even the date is not expired yet. So, strange.

I woke up with my head in my arms leaning on the table. I must have fallen asleep. I don’t know how long I was out but at least I ate, feel rested and now ready to continue hoping to find survivors.

I look around for the bathroom hoping to find some first aid I can use on my wound. In the medicine cabinet is everything I need. Antiseptic, bandages, ointment. I use it all. It doesn’t look pretty but I don’t care.

I head back towards the kitchen and stop short of the basement door. Strange, I hear humming. I don’t remember hearing humming before. I am nervous, but I need to do something. I can’t just stay here.

Stepping closer to the door, I reach out for the doorknob and the humming is getting louder and the door looks weird. I rub my eyes, but the door seems to be moving. Am a dreaming? Is this all just a bad dream? Please let me wake up.

I place my hand on the doorknob and it’s vibrating…it feels warm. Turning it slowly, my eyes wide and ready for what may happen to me, I pull.

Suddenly, some kind of force grabs me, pulling me. I feel like I am in a bubble, and I am seeing all sorts of distorted colors, moving and blending into each other. The humming is getting louder…high pitched. It’s hurting my ears. I try covering them, but it’s difficult to

bring my arms up to my head. It’s warm and getting warmer. Sweat blowing off my face, like a car driving fast in the rain after you cleaned the windshield with RainX.

The pulling stops as well as the colors and heat, I feel I am bouncing on a firm surface. I feel like a basketball and pass out.

I woke up in some strange room. It looks like a hospital room and smells as clean as a hospital room. I smell roses. The scent is beautiful. Muffled sounds. People? The sounds are getting clearer now. Children…laughing. Oh, what a wonderful sound.

A light knock on the door and a man and woman come in and walk up to me.

“Oh, your awake,” the man said.

“We were getting so worried about you dear. You have been asleep almost two weeks,” the woman said.

“Two…two weeks?”

“Sara, please take her vitals. I am Dr. Luke Samuels. This is my nurse, Sara.”

“Can you tell me your name?”

“Uh, it’s Gail. Gail Somers. Where am I? What the hell happened to me? Are you for real? am I dead?”

“Ha ha. No, you are most certainly not dead. But we do have to talk. What happened to you happened to all of us. See, there was an alien invasion. There were spaceships everywhere, it was utter chaos and destruction all around us. They destroyed everything,” the doctor explained.

“Yeah, I woke up and everything was gone. I saw a building that was still standing and went there. I ate and took care of my wound and before I knew it, I opened the door and went through some weird vortex and here I am.”

“You did a wonderful job taking care of your leg. It’s healing well and you will make a complete recovery. After the attack was over and the alien ships were gone, the entire building you were in became a portal. We all went through it and traveled to a new planet. All people and wildlife were strangely drawn to the portal. We named it Dyphoria. It’s beautiful here and I think you will be very happy,” said Sara.

“Well, I am relieved. So, my family?”

“All here dear,” Sara said.

“In fact, they are waiting for me to call them with an update. They will be visiting you very soon. They will be so happy that you will be ok,” the doctor said. “I am going to leave you in good hands with Sara. She will help get you settled,”

“Thanks doc.”

“I will open the curtains and let the sunshine into your room. It’s a gorgeous view. Beautiful flowers and the mountains beyond. I am glad you are going to be ok,” said Sara. “Can I bring you anything while you are waiting for your family to arrive?”

“Everything. I’m famished. I think I have a fresh look on life.”

“We all do dear. We all do.”

THE END