| General Fiction posted July 19, 2023 |
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On April 13, 2029, Asteroid Apophis will pass close to earth
If Tomorrow Never Comes
by Mario PIERRE
APRIL 03, 2029
“They’ve announced it numerous times before, Pam. Our old earth is still intact, and we are still alive and well.”
“I’m scared, Henry. The radio keeps broadcasting the mayor’s order for the whole town to evacuate. I think—
“Don’t work yourself up, honey, or your blood pressure will peak anew. We’ll be safe here.”
“Are you never afraid, Henry?”
“I’m terrified of our old roof falling on our head, yes! But certainly not of asteroids!” Henry replied with a crackling laugh.
“You should listen to the radio, dear. People are fleeing by hundreds of thousands. They say there’s a chance the southern African countries may be spared. Would you want us to be the only ones left to die here?” Pam asked wearily.
Henry sat facing her and held her withered hands. “We don’t have any family left. We are both over eighty, honey. Where shall we go? Are we not supposed to stick it out through thick and thin? It’ll be okay, hon, you wait and see. Even if we have to perish, so be it. But we’ll do it right here, holding hands… like this, see?” He squeezed Pam’s wrists, then caressed her delicate hands webbed with blue veins.
Pam’s face glowed as she smiled at her husband. Henry softly dabbed her watery eyes with a tissue. She bent forward, her whole frame inhabited by tremors, and whispered into his ear: “You’re a stubborn donkey, Henry, but I still love you.” She pulled herself back, giggling quietly.
Henry didn’t close an eye that night. He was troubled by all this Apophis asteroid threatening to wipe off the entire planet, but he didn’t want Pam to see his fear. Henry was not a fool. He had been a scientist long enough to realize that the calculations were probably exact.
A week before, he had taken an Uber to the local pharmacy. The streets were deserted, houses, apartments and buildings were empty, and stores were closed. Henry could not conceive how this dynamic and lively place could suddenly turn into a ghost town.
The Uber driver told him there were riots at the airport. “I prefer to die in my bed than being trampled by a crazy mob,” he added. Apparently, only a few planes remained to depart and people were killing each other to get the last seats.
The following morning, Henry ambled down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He then helped Pam get into her wheelchair. They ate in silence, each one brooding over dark and gloomy thoughts.
April 13, 2029. 4:00 p.m.
Henry helped Pam take her shower, dressed her in her pink pyjamas and brought her to bed for their afternoon nap. ‘This might be our last’, he thought. In forty-five minutes, Apophis would strike, and all hell would break loose.
Outside, the street was dead. Teams of milky clouds had invaded the yellowish sky and the atmosphere was humid and suffocating.
Henry lay by Pam’s side and held her hands. She kissed him on his forehead and murmured calmly: “There won’t be any tomorrow, right, darling?”
Henry’s muscles tightened and his eyes welled up. “I’m afraid not, sweetheart.”
“As long as you hold me tight, I’ll be fine. We’ve had it good and I have no regrets, you know.”
“Neither do I, Pam.”
She closed her eyes and whispered, “I’ve always loved you, Henry.”
A blinding light illuminated the bedroom followed by a strident whistling sound as the gigantic boulder hurtled through the sky. Then a deafening bang shook the house. Henry surrounded Pam with both arms. He felt comforted by her peaceful expression. Pam’s warm and soothing breath caressed his face.
An old country tune suddenly came to his mind and he hummed it:
'I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the light and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel about her—'
The clamour around them was infernal. Henry realized their house was in flames.
He hugged Pam and prayed.
That it would be swift.
And painless.
Sunday, Monday, Doomsday... writing prompt entry
APRIL 03, 2029
“They’ve announced it numerous times before, Pam. Our old earth is still intact, and we are still alive and well.”
“I’m scared, Henry. The radio keeps broadcasting the mayor’s order for the whole town to evacuate. I think—
“Don’t work yourself up, honey, or your blood pressure will peak anew. We’ll be safe here.”
“Are you never afraid, Henry?”
“I’m terrified of our old roof falling on our head, yes! But certainly not of asteroids!” Henry replied with a crackling laugh.
“You should listen to the radio, dear. People are fleeing by hundreds of thousands. They say there’s a chance the southern African countries may be spared. Would you want us to be the only ones left to die here?” Pam asked wearily.
Henry sat facing her and held her withered hands. “We don’t have any family left. We are both over eighty, honey. Where shall we go? Are we not supposed to stick it out through thick and thin? It’ll be okay, hon, you wait and see. Even if we have to perish, so be it. But we’ll do it right here, holding hands… like this, see?” He squeezed Pam’s wrists, then caressed her delicate hands webbed with blue veins.
Pam’s face glowed as she smiled at her husband. Henry softly dabbed her watery eyes with a tissue. She bent forward, her whole frame inhabited by tremors, and whispered into his ear: “You’re a stubborn donkey, Henry, but I still love you.” She pulled herself back, giggling quietly.
Henry didn’t close an eye that night. He was troubled by all this Apophis asteroid threatening to wipe off the entire planet, but he didn’t want Pam to see his fear. Henry was not a fool. He had been a scientist long enough to realize that the calculations were probably exact.
A week before, he had taken an Uber to the local pharmacy. The streets were deserted, houses, apartments and buildings were empty, and stores were closed. Henry could not conceive how this dynamic and lively place could suddenly turn into a ghost town.
The Uber driver told him there were riots at the airport. “I prefer to die in my bed than being trampled by a crazy mob,” he added. Apparently, only a few planes remained to depart and people were killing each other to get the last seats.
The following morning, Henry ambled down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He then helped Pam get into her wheelchair. They ate in silence, each one brooding over dark and gloomy thoughts.
April 13, 2029. 4:00 p.m.
Henry helped Pam take her shower, dressed her in her pink pyjamas and brought her to bed for their afternoon nap. ‘This might be our last’, he thought. In forty-five minutes, Apophis would strike, and all hell would break loose.
Outside, the street was dead. Teams of milky clouds had invaded the yellowish sky and the atmosphere was humid and suffocating.
Outside, the street was dead. Teams of milky clouds had invaded the yellowish sky and the atmosphere was humid and suffocating.
Henry lay by Pam’s side and held her hands. She kissed him on his forehead and murmured calmly: “There won’t be any tomorrow, right, darling?”
Henry’s muscles tightened and his eyes welled up. “I’m afraid not, sweetheart.”
“As long as you hold me tight, I’ll be fine. We’ve had it good and I have no regrets, you know.”
“Neither do I, Pam.”
She closed her eyes and whispered, “I’ve always loved you, Henry.”
A blinding light illuminated the bedroom followed by a strident whistling sound as the gigantic boulder hurtled through the sky. Then a deafening bang shook the house. Henry surrounded Pam with both arms. He felt comforted by her peaceful expression. Pam’s warm and soothing breath caressed his face.
An old country tune suddenly came to his mind and he hummed it:
'I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the light and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel about her—'
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the light and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel about her—'
The clamour around them was infernal. Henry realized their house was in flames.
He hugged Pam and prayed.
That it would be swift.
And painless.
He hugged Pam and prayed.
That it would be swift.
And painless.
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Writing Prompt Write a flash fiction story up to 700 words that involves a doomsday scenario. Anything goes, but the end of the world, or its perception, must be a driving force in your story. |
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