A dark and traumatic future

The dark

Are you scared of the dark?  The unexplained shadows and the threat of what might lurk out there. Noises that make your heart beat faster. The uninvited thoughts and secrets that the darkness might protect.

Watching the rain jump off the tarmac, so close to inevitable disaster. I have sat here many nights before, but tonight felt different.   The rumbling of the storm and the angry speed of the downpour. Has someone upset the Gods? Or is this just bad weather? What is bad weather? Some people would enjoy this storm.

Telling myself to just close the curtains the room is illuminated again as the night explodes, and then I am plunged into the dark.  Leaving the window for the kitchen, I try the light switch, no power which means no light and no calming mug of tea.

Seeking refuge under my warm soft blanket, its late. There is no power and sleep is far away. What is happening out there in the darkness?  Imagining cats and wild animals fighting the night raged on.

The morning after

Waking to the sound of a man’s voice, I’m confused as to how ”Tom Bradby’ ‘could be in my house.  Opening my eyes I then realise that I had left the television on and there are now pictures of devastation on the screen.  While safely lying under my blanket, fearing the explosive rumbles outside in the dark, there had been house fires, floods, fallen trees and road accidents. They were appealing for volunteers to help at the local shelters to support those that need food and a bed.

Picking up my phone I found a string of missed calls. I’m sure it didn’t ring, maybe I was too focused on the storm.  Listening to Tom it sounded like a different world out there.  My phone now started buzzing again as messages now started to come through.  Maybe the mobile networks had gone down with the storm.

A and E

Working in a hospital I have seen many messes. Today was a scene worse than ever before. The messages from the Unit manager to shift myself and get to work had appeared urgent.  Unfortunately, I’d only just received them. Walking into the department I could sense the tension immediately. We were surrounded by bodies and families, some crying, some bleeding. In all the years I’ve worked in Accident and Emergency nothing had prepared me for this.

Last night must have been the calm before the dark storm, I had left relaxed, and the unit was running on time.  Now there were no happy smiles and no time to explain how I hadn’t received the calls and messages.

Walking into the bay I could hear hushed voices. Hesitating to listen, this was like something from a ‘Stephen King’ novel.   A storm of this scale had not been reported in many years, what weather forces had caused it? And how had we not been advised of it? It seemed that even the weather forecasters had not been prepared for it. People had lost loved ones and there was no going back.

Could this have been a supernatural event?  The dark storm had been sudden and violent, the shock left in its wake was evident.  Glancing around the room the casualties were still arriving. Many of them treatable.  Nothing had prepared me for what happened next.

The truth

Would you believe someone who said they are from another lifetime? A parallel crashing with our time line that shouldn’t have happened, a fluke dark accident.   I’ve watched many episodes of Doctor Who and I love my books, never thought I might star in one though.

Pulling back the curtains I looked at my patient’s chart, Claudia. Looking at the attractive woman, I saw the large bloody graze on her arm.  Glancing at the page again there was a question mark against her NHS number. She was holding her arm close to her body and appeared to want to run.  Something was not right here, I could see that she wasn’t comfortable.  Introducing myself I asked her if I could call her to Claudia.  She hunched herself up and nodded.  Asking to look at her arm she pulled herself away from me.  Asking her what was wrong I was confused when she asked me to please just sit down.

Another Earth

She now started talking quietly.

“I’m from Earth Two, I’m not some nutcase, you need to listen to me, but that’s why I’m not on your NHS computers.  Our earth is more advanced than yours and well the NHS, it no longer exists. People ate getting sick and can’t afford to help themselves to get better.  Oh, and I’m also from the year 2040.   Our scientists developed a way for me to go back to 2024, back before the Labour government came into power. Unfortunately, things went wrong and as well as going back I’ve crashed sideways.”

I listened then asked,

“Okay how am I meant to believe you? And how do you know you can trust me?”,

“Because before I left Earth Two we discussed what could go wrong.  Crossing between the worlds was a possibility, the massive devastation was not planned”.

Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a photo and handed it to me.

A quest

“Okay now I’m confused, how have you got my photo? And how did you know I’m here?”

“Earth Two is a parallel universe.  We meet in 2025 and soon after get married.  This is the identical you.  After the collapse of the NHS you give up nursing in 2030. He told me to find you and you will help”.

“Then why did he not come himself?”

“Because I’m the scientist and you are an A and E nurse.  I had to travel back”.

I stood pondering, what can I do? and  then I realised what my other me knew. The amount of books I have read and the one person I know who would love to help solve this problem.  Somehow, we had to stop the destruction of the NHS. If we stopped it on Earth One it should also be stopped on Earth Two.

“If we can fix this, how do you get home?”

“I have a chip inside my arm, they will pull me back when I’m ready”.

A friend

Budding politician, and election hopeful Stephen Grace stood in his office.  As I walked in with Claudia he looked up.

“Nicky what the heck is going on? It sounded urgent on the phone.”

“We have a situation, we need to get into the government manifestos that the NHS stays. Its currently dramatically underfunded, we need to do something now.  I can’t tell you everything, but please believe me that if things stay as they are, it will cease to exist and by the year 2040 there will be many unnecessary deaths.  The UK can’t afford privatisation, this needs sorting now.   Don’t ask how I know this, you have read enough ‘Stephen King’ novels to work it out for yourself”.

Solution

Two weeks later, Claudia suddenly just left without saying goodbye.  The news broadcast then announced that billions was being put into the NHS budget to ensure it would continue for years to come and there would now be a recruitment drive for care staff, GPs and dentists. I wondered about the talk of wage increases.   Not sure how Stephen had done this, but I was grateful.

The destruction in the dark, caused by storm Claudia was now being fixed, Families were healing and homes were being repaired.

A and E

Six months later, I met a lady I recognised.  Uni student, Claudia Street had an accident painting her hallway, and here she was in A and E. How do you talk to your future wife when they have never seen you before?  Trying to act normal we talked about her injury, we had a relaxed conversation.  As she left, she advised me that she is often at the local pub on the corner near the hospital.  I knew this was an invitation to more.

I wondered that day what might happen in our 2040.  The other Claudia must have been called back because Earth Two was fixed.  It sounded like an exciting future, but I didn’t want her crashing between worlds again.  Also, if there is an Earth Two, is there an Earth Three and Four? Maybe one day I will find out, but today I will just focus on the present and nursing,

 

Written for Writers Unite! write the story photo prompt

For more see, Creamy pudding, love and friendship – also written for Writers Unite! photo prompt