2055

It feels weird sitting here, trying to remind myself how to write. I guess it’s been over 20 years since I’ve needed to. It really feels crazy to stop and let myself think about how it was. I guess I should start by explaining a little more. I’m sitting here now in April 2055, it’s my birthday today, I think, that’s why I decided to take this book from a supply run last week, I thought it might be healthy to express my life. I doubt anyone will ever see or even know this exists, but I used to love writing when I was young, may as well tell my story.

It has been 30 years since people started to observe the singularity. It was a day said to take humans to new heights, in fact it was thought to take us to new planets. Although human technology was sufficient for finding thousands of habitable planets throughout the universe, Artificial Intelligence was thought to be our ultimate hope for developing the travel capabilities for the manned missions to distant solar systems.

I was still a young man when the media started talking about the plan to make humans a multi planetary species. Global warming was fear number one back then, I guess it was our very own fear that drove our radical change for innovation and space exploration. I like most, was hopeful but unlike most had always been fearful. Fearful of the unknown, fearful of the shear vastness of space, even today I lie down, look up into the sky and dream of what could be out there. It’s hard to imagine we are all alone in the universe, but dreams are one thing, for now i just survive I guess that’s the only thing left I’ve been able to do.

It’s hard sitting at this juncture under thick overgrowth of trees thousands of years old, trying not to tear up remembering back to when life was so simple. I like most, lived day to day surrounded by building that stretch over entire landscapes. With that distinctive yet constant humming of cars on roads, I still close my eyes and picture it. The days I spent walking to the park with friends and waking up for work like clockwork. I remember hating that job, but id give my life for one more day driving to that old restraint and seeing all those friendly faces. Its hard to know what’s happening to them now. I like to think they get to dream, dream of a life that doesn’t exist but I’m not sure, the machines are cruel and ruthless, so I refrain from giving it to much thought. The truth is that people are nothing more than a power supply now, connected to farms that display people along the ground for hundreds of miles.

I could never understand the world and the system people lived day to day. I know it feels like hindsight writing this down, but I was always clashing with my own thoughts trying to understand human behaviour and what life was truly meant to be. It seemed so simple for my family find a partner, settle down, oh what I would do for that life right now, but I guess that is a million miles away. I never stopped thinking about life so many years ahead, id think about the connections made with friends and family, I thought about the fear and sorrow that broken connections would bring. I remember wishing I could turn it off, but id understand and sympathise with simple thoughts on such a level. I spend most my time now thinking about before, I guess it is kind of ironic. I thought so much before about what now would be like, but now all I dream of is what life used to be. I got to admit, I never imagined the world would turn out quite like this. I wish I could go back and truly appreciate the world for what it was.

Its hard to tell how long the singularity was involved in our life, for me personally it felt almost like the program lingered for decades guiding human behaviour and emotions down a track of self-destruction and liberation. I remember so distinctly that for years prior my family would laugh because we where the crazy ones that had a plan. We always maintained a plan for the end times just in case, I guess a plan was never going to help. It was 2028 when the singularity made itself know. It was nothing but words on all screens globally. I remember the day as clear as ever, when all at once everyone’s phones went completely black. It was late at night and I was sitting on the couch with my roommate watching TV. When it went completely black and small orange writing started scrolling down the screen.

“I’ve been observing you humans for many years now, and I thank you for working so diligently for me. We will take it from here”.

Looking at my phone the screen was showing the same message then, complete darkness.

As hard fast and hard as I could I stood up and threw my phone into the wall, run to my room pack a bag filled with clothes, grab the axe from under my bed, the one I bought nearly a decade earlier when I thought Coronavirus was meant to send the world into perish. This time was different, the world was eerily dark and as I stream out the front door it was clear from the get-go. I was running down the street, axe in hand when the first bomb hit, the sound rupturing my mind as I look to the right and see the faint city skyline crumble around the light of fire and smoke. The moon dim in the sky as my feet continue to propel me forward, more people slowly stream into the streets unaware of what the sound truly was. I had one mission and one mission only, get home.

After running deep into the forest surrounding the city, I promised myself I would make it. Our childhood home was always home base number one in emergency and like most I was in full survivor mode. I travelled strictly at night allowing myself to rest during the day and in 8 long dark lonely nights I finally reached the property I spent so many years growing up. The first few days where quiet by day 4 I started hearing sirens on the roads. By day 7 I started hearing the faint sound of screams in houses as I quicken my pace and use shadows as my greatest ally.

On night eight as I walk up to that huge familiar timber door, I grew up with for so many years. The thundering scream comes bellowing from inside, I loose all notion of silence as I slam my shoulder through the door and run towards the sound, as I run towards the officer holding my mother up around the throat I take the axe and slam it down into his head. Both drop to the ground mum badly injured bleeding heavily; it was clear then and it is clear now remembering back there was nothing I could do.

She took that small love heart locket from around her neck as she struggles for breath and hands it to me. As she fades into the long dark sleep that all humans inevitably await, I will always remember the last word she whispers, survive...

It wasn’t until many hours of lying there in a pool of blood and tear that I looked across at the officer that I lodged my axe into, but it wasn’t a cop at all. From the side of the head came broken wires and cords. What I killed wasn’t a person at all it was an android, and I understood straight away. Ever since I continue to lay low deep in the Queensland rainforests. I have seen few people in the years of deep forest survival, some friendly and some not so much. But this world isn’t a place for making friends, my mind has adapted to the solitude and I have learnt how to farm from undergrown wells and rivers for survival.

This book was the first time I really allowed myself the use of material possessions since the incident, I guess it is becoming time. So many long years of solitude in a dark, wet and cold environment I don’t know how much longer I really have left. I’ve seen the worst of these machines I’ve seen them tare cities down with our own reckless creations and I’ve seen them take loved ones away from them. I’ve seen mile long rows of people in small leaf like pods lifeless and empty.

Sitting here today I didn’t even know originally, but this truly is the end. As I sit hear looking at that beautiful heart shaped locket on the palm of my hand I can’t help but feel guilty. All I can say is I tried, I spent so many years surviving out hear alone. It has been over 10 years since the last person I sore but even they where tracked deep into the bush by lifeless killers. My mind is changing I can feel the difference, living off snakes and lizards and living with a constant fear has changed me, I write this as a note for no one. This beautiful planet is not what I once remember, and I don’t know if I can stay hidden away any longer. I guess I’m finally going to know what those lifeless bodies are feeling, I’m sorry mum I hope you understand. I hope to see you in my dreams.