Author’s Note: HEEEEYYY I’m back! Sorry, I was working on my projects before. This is me getting back into things, this is pretty mediocre on my part. OK, hope you enjoy.
My Future, Our Future
A Dystopian Short Story by Ana Govindasamy
Trigger Warnings/ Disclaimers: Coronavirus, Death and Bereavement Themes
My breath comes out, visible in the January darkness.
Giving me away.
I hook my mask back onto my face. I don’t care. Don’t care about the dirt caked into its stitches. Don’t care about the rain pouring down on my already weak body. There are only three things that matter right now.
The road.
Those sirens.
And me.
2032. The pandemic, the Covid-19 one. There’s been so many mutations, too many mutations. We looked to the future yesterday. We’d tell our kids about this. It was going to be history. Well, it’s the present now too. Too many mutations. Kill the mutations.
Kill the infected.
Kill me.
So, I run. I run from the sirens, I run from the guns, I run from my death. I’ve gotten the newest strain. The one no one is going to bother coming up with a a vaccine for.
I know where I’m headed. If I can reach the border I can get to the next country. They never signed the agreement. No-one in the East did.
Border.
I have my passport. Or I hope I do.
My breath was lost miles ago. The world spins beneath me as thoughts cloud my mind. I think I’m stopping because of it. But I can’t.
Can’t stop.
Can’t slow.
I struggle to breathe now, and not just because of the miles I’ve ran. I’m nearing the border now, and I know it. I’m on the motorway, and cars are lined up, inches away from touching. So many have tried to get to the East. So many still try. But I need this. Even while fumes clog my lungs. It’s making me almost lightheaded.
I can’t feel.
My head is pounding.
I can’t go on.
So I don’t.
Moonlit lake. Swans drifting upon it. Reeds and marsh perfectly trimmed. Then I see Alex. No mask. I don’t have one either. Just me, and a stunning apparition of my true love. I extend my hand. Our fingers brush, cold silver glow against warm skin. A swarm of images flood my mind.
A world without the sickness. A world without the suffering. We have a home. Children, even. Two sons, though the eldest looks much more like Alex than he does me. It’s world where we’re happy.
No death.
No illness.
And I wish I could say the same for me.
Because I don’t wake up.
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21 comments
NOTE FOR ALL Y’ALL WHO GO ON LIKE SPREES: I personally think that likes are nice, but comments and critiques are much more helpful! I kind of hate it when people just go on random liking sprees. I would appreciate it much more if you took the time to read and give feedback. Points are nice but at the end of the day, improvement is better!
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This is beautiful. Such a short sharp impact!
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Thank you!
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This is so sad but beautiful. Heartbreaking but soulful. Loved this.
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Thanks so much!
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No problem! If you have time, I would love it if you could check out my latest story, but you don't have to.🙂
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Sure!
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I love sad stories, and this story checked every box possible. Sure I was reading this while listening to the titanic music, which made it even more sad, but this is a 10/10 good work!
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Haha, thanks so much!
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Wow! I definitely did not see that coming. This is an amazing story that really draws the reader in, and it's so heartrending but wonderful at the same time!
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Thanks so so much, Nadya!
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Yes, this is so true!
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I love this
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Thanks
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Yeah this was awful, but it's nice to be back on Reedsy!
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Wonderful sad story! I'm glad we're getting COVID under control!
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Thanks, Charlie!
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I loved the fact that you managed to provoke such strong feelings in such a short story! Only a week ago I joined the platform and I am loving the diversity! I also just submitted my first story yay!
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Hey Ro, welcome to Reedsy! I’m so happy that you loved my writing so much!
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This is an amazing story! wow! When I read it I was on the verge of crying! You did an amazing job!
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Aww, thanks so much, Ansley!
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