A Fantasy Future

Children’s laughter filtered through the rows of thriving plants, their voices growing closer with little squeals of excitement. A smile tugged at my lips as I tilted my head back. Rays of sunlight streamed through verdant green leaves of the orange tree looming over me. Citrus filled my nose from picking the ripened fruits.

Such a peaceful moment. One of many in recent years after the world finally settled. I didn’t think I’d ever get a moment like this again, not when I was lost in a pit of mutilated soldiers. A pit of hopelessness and fury at what the world came to. I though my soul would die with the soldiers I tried to save.

The war was over though. I’d made it through. Many did not. And my soul managed to survive. It managed to piece itself back together as we made peace and rebuilt.

Grabbing the wicker basket full of oranges, I hefted it onto the rolling cart which already held bushels and bunches of fresh herbs, onions, carrots, and potatoes.

“Doc, can I go with you?” a little voice asked, tugging on my dirt-stained overalls.

I smiled at the young boy. “Of course, Ben. We need to let your parents know first.”

He walked with me to the elevator which stood at the back of the garden, covered in trellises of greenery. I scanned my eye to call it up then looked out over the other buildings. Our city looked vastly different twenty years ago. Skyscrapers used to pollute the horizon along with smelly smog.

After the world war, after the city had been decimated by bombs and fighting, we had to start over. We rebuilt our city, our entire country, under a new standard, one that put community and families at the center of their ideals. And most importantly, a standard that respected nature and our affinity for technology.

Green became the dominant color of our cities while machines were put to the task of enhancing our lives, of making them run smoothly in this new world. Trees and native plants lined the streets which no longer catered to cars but to pedestrians and cyclists. Our roofs were either full of crops or solar panels.

Our cities were smaller yet capable of housing just as many in the old days. We were more easily connected to major cities, public railways the dominant form of transportation. Our network was still growing, but our trains were state of the art, fast and convenient.

It was a paradise I never dreamed of having.

Unfortunately, it took millions of lives to get here. Natural disasters, rampant fighting. It took so much from us. But from the ashes, we learned from our past and built a better future.

I waited for Ben to talk to his parents before we rode down the few stories to the ground floor of our building. The atrium, just like every other residential building, bustled with life. Kids played on one side, a cafe and work area on the other. Plants and natural materials filled the space, insulating some of the noise while also breathing even more life into our home.

Ben and I walked two blocks down to the market, our way shaded by lush oak trees.

“Hey, Julie,” George said when he saw me. “Benny boy!” he called, grabbing the kid to rustle his hair. Ben laughed, not a worry in his little world.

“We’ve come to stock you up,” I informed, gesturing to my full cart.

“That’s great. We’re running low on oranges. I’ll take half of everything else though. Take the rest back to the kitchen.”

The three of us transferred the crops to our building’s stand where we sold or traded for other food. We did our best to assign different crops to each building then traded from there, so we weren’t overwhelmed by too many variations and yielded quality crops. Some of the larger items, like wheat and poultry, were farmed outside the city.

“Can we look at the other stands?” Ben asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have to get to the clinic.”

Ben’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”

“I’ve got him, Julie. You go on. I’ll have one of the security bots walk him home when he’s done,” George offered.

I sighed in relief. “Thanks, George.” I bent to Ben’s level. “Behave and don’t stay too long. Your parents will be waiting.”

He nodded, his smile blinding. He darted across the street to where another boy waited with his mom. She greeted him then waved at us while the boys sank to the ground, a jar of marbles between them.

“Enjoy the rest of your day, Julie,” George said.

I left the cart with him and walked down to the clinic. There weren’t many things for me to do these days, not with the rapid advancements in medical equipment and treatments. I didn’t mind it though; I was able to help far more people this way.

There were things that I couldn’t heal of course, no matter what technology was invented. But at least we had better support and accommodations these days. The prosthetics industry was like something out of a space movie with how realistic and functional they were.

Changing out of my dirty clothes, I pulled on perfectly pressed scrubs and my white coat.

“Good morning,” I said to the staff. We had one secretary, two nurses, and a med bot. We managed perfectly well with what I would have considered a bare bones staff before the war.

“Morning, Dr. Greene,” they replied as I read through the first patient’s record on my tablet.

They were following up after an appendix removal at the surgery center next door yesterday. These things had always been routine, even more so these days with barely any down time or recovery.

“Any issues with the first patient?” I asked the nurse.

“Nothing. Vitals are stable. Incision is clean."

I nodded then knocked on the door. With a smile, I greeted the patient.

Things had changed a lot since the war ended. It had been inevitable. Most of us were thrilled that we changed for the better though. We saved our planet yet continued to progress.

Life was easier and safer for everyone.

It made more sense now.

I only hoped it stayed this way for generations to come.