Rising - Short Story

Rising

It has been six years since the huge calamity struck Earth and we still face it's aftermath. It's hard enough to survive through the cities full of rubble, let alone the tornadoes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that still occur.

The day was Friday, June 10th, 2064.

I still remember it clear as day.

I was only fourteen years old and still like a bird in my mother's nest.

The calamity continued for four days, before it finally calmed down. We had only just entered the eye of the storm and knew more was coming, but over 50% of humanity had already perished. Then after two full days of unsettling silence, Earth was struck even harder.

When the thing we can only refer to as 'the calamity' finally subsided, only 18% of humanity somehow held on. Only 1,404,000 of the original 7,800,000,000 remained.

Once we reached the eye of the storm I still had my mother and younger brother, but lost my older siblings and father. I had always been one of the youngest, but suddenly I had to be the strong one. Only...

I wasn't strong enough...

I can still hear my baby brother's screams as he was ripped from my arms.

I don't know what is harder.

Having to be strong for someone else's sake...

Or being completely alone...

Although I'm not the only one with regrets. Every person still breathing wishes they could go back in time. There isn't a single one of us who isn't plagued by regrets, nightmares, and fears.

But...

We're rising from the ashes...

Because we all survived, and there is no one who can take that away from us.

(this is for the count)

Hello, how are you doing today?

I am doing just fine, thank you for asking.

Hello, how are you doing today?

I am doing just fine, thank you for asking.

Hello, how are you doing today?

I am doing just fine, thank you for asking.

Hello, how are you doing today?

I am doing just fine, thank you for asking.