Dying Light

I rub my eyes to get the sleep out. The air is smokey around me and I can see tiny dust particles from the small stream of light coming through the crack in the wall. Everything is boarded up to keep them out. And that is how it will have to stay. Darkness has become my friend.

I quickly clasp my neck and feel the tiny, cold metal rings against my soft fingertips. My fingers trail down the links until I eventually reach my heart shaped locket and trace around the tiny diamond outline. Memories of a different world come flashing back.

Happy memories of a warm summer day with creamy vegan vanilla ice cream dripping down my hands as I hold the waffle cone for my toddler. Her delicious smile with tiny baby teeth and that look of innocence in her eyes. Her plump lips covered in ice cream, giggling and laughing. The look of pure joy. A look I won't ever forget.

I can almost taste the droplets of salty, cold water as it touches my skin when I jump in the pool before my son. '1 ...2....3... BOMBBBBBBS AWAYYYY.' He screams as he curls his legs up tight to his chest and holds them with his arms before jumping in to join me. He resurfaces and flicks his head to the side to get his hair off his face. I grab his slippery body and throw him into the air. He lets out a glorious cackle. A sound I won't ever forget.

We get out of the pool and wrap our bodies in soft, plush towels. My husband gives me a smooch and wraps his arms around me. A squeezie hug - my favourite. I remember feeling how I couldn't love my husband more if I tried. I squeeze him back and my heart shaped locket presses into my chest . This is pure happiness. What dreams are made of.

I had it all. I loved my life. No really, it was perfect. The big house and fancy European car. Two healthy and gorgeous babies. A husband who adored me. And now what.. nothing but memories. Nothing but darkness and smoke.

This was the last time we were together. It was the last time I felt that warm feeling in your soul where nothing else matters but that moment in time.

Now, I am alone.

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They like the heat but not the sun. Weird, right? I can't explain it and probably no one can. It's not like there are any laboratories or Scientists. There are no Doctors, no Teachers. No Uber drivers, no Tradesman, no Retail staff. It doesn't matter what you did before because it is just US verse them now. The creatures from space. The creatures that arrived with a bang of fury and fire. Cities gone in a flash. Evaporated with a click of a finger and all that remains is smoking ash and the howls of the survivors.

We are in the Southern Hemisphere so we were attacked last. We had some warning but not much. And the warning we did get was from social media. My Instagram notifications were going crazy. Like extra crazy. Pre-apocalyptic madness I was a mummy blogger. I spent my days cooking vegan recipes and offering parenting advice. I promoted nappies and saving the planet. I donated to charities and wrote blogs. I was not prepared for this.

The day it happened I received a flood of video messages from my family in Italy screaming 'Salvati Salvati !!! Loro stanno arrivando - Prega per me' (Save yourself - they are coming, Pray for me). The phone shaking up and down, side to side as they record and run. I can see the cobble streets swarming with people of all ages. Scrambling to escape the busy streets of Rome.

More messages come through from my family in America but this time just a voice meme. ' Gabriella..Gabriella.. you gotta escape honey. We are stuck but you have a chance. Get your fam and hide sweetie. Pray to God and hide. We don't know what they are - they aren't from here'

I can see them in the video, huddled close and whispering. Then I hear a clicking noise and then it goes dead. The video they abruptly ends. My heart sinks.

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How bizarre that we found out even before the Government organisations had issued out statements. They left us for dead. Our Prime Minister basically told us every man for themselves. If you were weak or sick, you would be left behind. But this doesn't surprise me because I had been saying for years the Government is not our friend. I was right.

You can't do much in a few hours other then say your goodbye's. So that's what we did.

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They are fast and advanced. They shriek, almost in delight when they kill and they make a clicking noise to communicate. It's petrifying. Physically I am ok but not mentally, especially when I hear those noises. It means they are close and plotting something sinister. They work in groups like gangs of soldiers.

They enjoy the taste of blood. Not just humans either ; dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds. Nothing is safe.

What will happen to Planet Earth or did this happen because of what we have done. Could they see from space that planet earth was nearly destroyed anyways so why not take over and destroy the life forms. I have plenty of time to think. It's just me. I am all alone.

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It's a beautiful sunny but smokey day and I am starving. I have depleted my food supplies. There's half a bar of Cadbury Top Deck left and one Orange. I stare at the Orange meekly estimating how long it can last me. Theres roughly 6 segments and I am awake for 18 hours sooo... I can eat ONE segment every three hours. That's pathetic really. I need to find some food.

I make my way downstairs, mentally preparing myself for the tragedy I will witness outside these walls. The remains of dead bodies are usually scattered. An arm here, and a leg over there. But it's the kids I can't get over. They didn't get to live. They didn't get to love. They were the most innocent in all of this.

I pick up my husbands hammer and remove a nail from the plank boarded ton the window seal. Then I do the same with the the other side and light fills up the space. I stick my head outside and look around quickly for evidence of them or other humans.

It seems clear so I slide my tiny body through the gap. I was petite before this mess but now I am even smaller. 'Skin and bones' my dad would have called me. I would not recommend being vegan when the world looks like it might end. Food is scarce. But I also can't bring myself to kill an animal, skin it, and take out it's guts and then cook it. No thanks.

I head North, city bound with my Louis Vuitton Backpack. I knew this would be worth the money! It's the perfect size for these daring adventures and light weight so not hold me back if I need to run. I have worked out I can fit enough frozen fruit and veggies to last me 8 days.

The path is mapped out. I need to stick to the edge of the bushes. Stay out of the open space but also stay in the sun. I can see massive fires and buildings half collapsed. I can see car's upside down with the windows shattered. I am half way there and then the sun is covered by a cloud and I am outside. Alone.

My stomach becomes knots. I can feel my throat close up. I need to go to the toilet from being so nervous. No no no no no no no this can't be happening. I look up at the clouds.

Come on Mr. Sun. Don't let me down. Shine bright for me. I am speaking to it, coaxing it. Like it will respond or listen. A sense of despair floods me. I don't have enough food and I am already half way.

I see them before I hear them..the clicks. It's a few short clicks and then long clicks. Another responds with a higher pitch. They are somewhere in the distance but they are feeling safe without the suns harsh beams. They are coming.

Deep breaths...inhale...exhale... I have to keep reminding myself.

Inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale...

I'm in fight or flight mode. Do I stay and hide with only 5 hours left of daylight or do I attempt to make it to the city and keep heading north.

And then. I see them .

To be continued.