Cosmic Chaos!

Not a normal Sunday!

One of the reasons I always loved Sundays was that I could relax all day long and get prepared mentally for the next week of college. Yeah, college. Almost exactly 5 years ago, I was just a normal girl with a normal life. Nothing much was happening until that specific Sunday that changed my whole entire life. I thought it would just like any other day, sleeping, going for a coffee with my friends, maybe do some sports, but hell no! It was nothing like that.

I remember that I had a great Saturday night the previous day. I remember being at a party with my girls, a Halloween party, where I was dressed up like Morticia from the Addams Family. And weirdly, I did such a great job that I got so much attention and recognition from everyone. And when I say everyone, I also mean from the cutest and smartest boy in our college. Ah, Noah, he was such a nice guy, and that was like the first moment I spent some time with him. We were talking with each other about everything and I remember him being so fascinated with my make-up skills. I was really good with make-up to be honest. As a quite shy person in general, make-up was kind of a solution for my low self-confidence. Everything was going so well, and he even asked me to go out on a date! And I thought, well, luck finally had hit me and things would only get better. To be honest, I was just lying to myself. I was about to be part of something I had never imagined in my deepest and weirdest fantasies.

So, Sunday arrived and I was, well, so happy that morning and my confidence level was on top. I was feeling like the most beautiful girl in the entire universe. Well, that escalated really quickly. I remember I was just eating a normal breakfast and had a little headache. I drank a little bit too much the other night. At first, I thought my head was shaking, then the entire room started shaking. It was so shaky yet I thought I was, well, still drunk. I wasn’t worried at all, imagining that it was a result of all the alcohol from before. Then I heard screaming, which I still thought was all in my head. Everything inside my head. Another lie. I went to look from my window and was deeply shocked. Everyone was rushing so fast that they were running each other over. That was the moment I actually started to panic. I thought the building was on fire or something. After getting as many things from my room as I could, I started rushing down the stairs. I was still confused though, as I wasn’t seeing any smoke at all. And again, a question hit me, what is going on? I went outside to the garden and strangely, the college campus was empty. Where did all the people go? No people, no cars, no noise, nothing at all. My hangover started coming over me again and I thought I was dreaming. I started slapping myself a couple times, yet nothing was changing.

“Okay, I’m stuck alone in the middle of my college campus with no one to tell me what the freaking hell is going on,” I thought to myself. I was equally scared, confused and worried about everything. In no time at all, I tried using my phone to contact anyone I could. Anyone at all. But of course, things wouldn’t stop getting any weirder. There was absolutely no phone signal. How was it possible that I didn’t have signal at all, especially in the middle of the campus? Well, I was about to find out in a couple of hours, but at that moment my brain couldn’t stop thinking of all kinds of conspiracy theories. The most convincing one in my head was that my friends were playing a prank on me. I knew that Gina would always play the best pranks ever. Once she made me think I was being followed by a stalker. I can guarantee you, she is crazy as hell. She was also such an honest girl, but she loved to joke with people way too much. And that was the only thing that I didn’t like about her. But I got used to it just like everyone else, because her intentions weren’t bad. But if she has done this, I swear to God, I’m never going to talk to her again.

I was wrong again. Wrong, wrong and so clueless. My heart was beating so fast, and I needed to figure something out as soon as possible. I couldn’t just stand there like nothing was happening. I had to figure something out. And at the moment I had lost all hope, there she was, the most brilliant and genius prankster of all time, Gina. I couldn’t hold back myself and started shouting at her.

- “Did you do all this? Are you this stupid? Who in their right mind would do such a stupid prank to her best friend? Hell no, don’t say anything, I can’t wait to hear what you will say next?”

I was so wrong again. Every time I remember these words I feel so stupid.

- “Please calm down, I can’t put up with any shouting today. What the hell are you talking about, I have been sleeping all day long and the first thing I hear is you shouting. Shut it girl, my head is spinning around, I had too much to drink last night, so like, I am really not in the mood for any of your weird shenanigans right now.”

- “Really Gina, you keep on lying. I knew that you were someone who likes to have fun, but this isn’t fun anymore. Explain yourself right now before I lose my patience.”

Sometimes when you remember situations in the past, you regret doing some things. That was one of the moments I wish I could take back. It had been years since I last saw her and I will regret that my last few words to her, were some stupid words because of my hot temper. If you are reading this, should you ever trust someone as much as humanly possible, please, never let them go. You will always regret it in the end.

- “Look, I have no idea what you talking about. Why are you being so mean towards me? Wait, don’t tell me, did someone offer you any drugs last night? That must be why you’re out of control. I get it. It’s okay. “

She was kinda right. If back then, I was the person that I am right now, I think I would have changed a lot of things about my personality and character. I was the type of person that couldn't listen, I was pretty impatient, I wanted success to arrive at the first glance, I loved social media and its attention, but now, I realize, I should have done some other things more and some other less.

After a really long debate, of which I will always regret the things I said, I started explaining to her what was going on. I remember her face turning all white, as if she had just seen a ghost. At first, she told me to stop, as she couldn’t believe how everyone could be running away, screaming, yet no one was in sight. The moment she believed me was when she took out her phone, and saw she had no signal either. Things were getting really weird. But at least I was happy about something, that she was by my side at this moment. That feeling that you are not the only one left in this world and having the people you love and that are by your side in difficult situations, gives you a strong sense of security. And that is the security I needed in that moment but never realized it was there until it was gone.

We had to do something, since we couldn’t just stand still and wait for a miracle. But Gina always had a solution for everything. So, we ran back to our rooms, packed some personal items and as many clothes and as we could get and went right back to my car as fast as we could. She asked if she could drive, as she was the better driver, but I again, with my deep and angry ego, fought her and said words that you should never, ever say to anyone you love: “I don’t trust you.”

I was just so confused and I was still thought she was pulling a prank on me. And that’s one of my biggest regrets. My decision to drive the car on my own would be her doom a few moments later, right in front of my eyes.

So, we left the campus and went directly to a hill nearby to see what was happening. That was a sight I’d never forget. The whole city was destroyed. Just... gone. Buildings shattered and smashed down like they were made of paper. Fire was everywhere, burning like it was hell. We were literally so shocked that we couldn’t move. It was unexplainable. How did this happen? It was as if you couldn’t decide whether it was a dream or reality. Life as I knew it before would forever be gone in that moment. I lost all sense of calmness and went alone directly to the car. I wanted to find a solution. As I was turning the car on, another earthquake occurred. And in that moment, I was forcefully pushed forward, pressing the gas pedal, and went straight into Gina, hitting her and throwing her off the cliff. I was just shocked. I can’t explain what the hell my mind was thinking in that moment. In just a second, you could lose everything in life. And just like that, with my own actions, I killed the last person that could help me. And the last person I would meet that day. Now I was all alone... Alone in the middle of a madness, in the middle of something that even the craziest dreams would never imagine. I was in the middle of the apocalypse.

Now you might wonder how I am alive 5 years later. Well, some five not so normal years have passed. One week from now is the ‘anniversary’ of the event. And you might wonder how is this possible? Well, I have many theories about this but let me tell you how I got here. After I killed my best friend, I drove away very terrified and scared. I still hadn’t reached my family yet. But in my head, I was so sure they were already dead, but my heart just refused to accept that. So, I decided to drive to the town nearby where my parents lived. At least I was hoping I could find them and find a solution to this situation. I was just hoping they were all safe. As I was driving through the highway, things would only get weirder and more frightening. After I had driven a few miles, I saw a strange person walking on the highway. It was the second person I had seen that day. But this man didn’t look normal at all. He looked like he might be homeless. I slowed down, with the hope that I could find someone else to help me during this unknown and crazy situation. As I was approaching him, I saw he was holding a sign, “The end is here”. The sight of that sent shivers down my spine. He noticed me, stopped, and stared silently. I stopped and asked him what was going on, but he started laughing abruptly and said just one simple thing: “The Gods sent a miracle.”

He was freaking insane. I drove quickly as far away from him as I could. I couldn’t hold my tears back as I kept on accelerating. I turned on the radio to see if I could find any channel or broadcast that would at least help me figure out what was happening. And by chance, and luck, I did get some frequencies. It was what sounded like a boy, repeating the same message every time on a local channel. And that is when I finally understood what was happening.

“Bzzt... If you are hearing this, you are a survivor, just like me. But I don’t think we will be survivors for long. They didn’t tell us, they didn’t warn us. They had all the technology possible to deal with this, but it didn’t work. They failed. They failed because they didn’t come to realize what was happening sooner. They were too late. I’ve warned you all multiple times, I knew what was going to happen but you called me crazy. Now this asteroid is going to kill us all. There may be some survivors after all this, or there won’t be. But if you are alive, please, come and join me at my station, station seventeen. I’m near the Blue Bridge. May God save us all. Bzzt...”

His message was clear. Humans, governments, leaders... We were all too late to handle this apocalypse. They must’ve not had time to build anything or create any weapon to destroy the asteroid. It was only a matter of time before it would come in contact with the Earth. Those earthquakes and everything were just signs of what was about to happen. Sure enough, the skies began to turn red and the big ball of rock could be seen falling from the sky. That was it. Flames and rubble began to rain down and the Earth started rumbling immediately. I decided to go towards the station, since that guy was just a few miles away. I don’t know why I decided to do that but I guess I didn’t want to die alone, and I didn’t really have a lot of options. One of my worst fears back then, was the idea of dying alone, without anyone being beside me in my last moments. I was just a hopeless girl back in the day. I guarantee you I’m not like that now.

I arrived at the Blue Bridge and saw the station nearby. As I was passing the bridge, which was actually in really terrible condition, it started to become unstable. The asphalt started to crumble at its weak points, and abandoned cars were being pulled down. The supports for the bridge started to snap and c***k. I tried to go as fast as I could to reach the other side, but I never made it to that point. Halfway through, the bridge snapped in half. And well, as for me, my car was thrown off right into the deep waters. I remember the moment the car crashed into the water below. As soon as I felt all the inertia from the impact, boom, out of nowhere, I found myself soaking wet and lying on a bench at a local bus station with my morning clothes. Everything was normal.

I was still in shock and wondered... Was I in a bad dream after all? It just seemed so real to me. I was looking for any mirror to check myself to see if I had any injuries, but no, everything was as normal as it could be. Or so I thought again. In the moment I felt quite relieved, and let out a sigh. I went around the corner of the bus station and saw a stand for the daily newspaper. I had to see what day it was. I must have lost all sense of time with all that partying, drinking and dancing I had one that entire weekend. That previous moment of relief only lasted a few seconds. As an old expression says, happiness doesn’t exist, only some glimpses of it. And my glimpse had just ended. The date read November 1st, 2016. To my shock, I was five years away from 2021. “No, no, this can’t be real,” I thought. As I debated whether or not I was losing my mind, I went to ask some people nearby what year we were in. They looked at me strangely, some even were quite harsh with their words or cast me off as a weirdo. But I was not acting crazy. I knew what had just happened moments before. As everything had been for me that day, it was unexplainably 2016. I was in my hometown, five years back, but oddly enough, with the body and the face of twenty-year-old me.

I needed some time to process that and everything else. Where would I go? Where would I find any shelter? Who could I ask about all this? No one would believe that I was who I said I was. All I had was my name, Casey, but proving my identity would be quite difficult as well. As much I had seen sci-fi movies, one of the main advices is to not go visit yourself in the past because it can interfere with the future. So, I couldn’t go back to my family’s house, at least not without making sure that nothing bad would happen to them. I couldn’t visit Gina either, as she would be fifteen years old. There was just so much to process that day, a rollercoaster of emotions that I will never forget. I sat at that bus station for hours without anything to do. Just sitting there, with my head towards the sky, hoping it would give me a sign, something that would tell me what to do next. I laid there hopeless, having lost it all. My life, family, friends... They were just gone. But when it rains, it pours. I had also just survived an apocalypse so there would naturally be room for a lot of confusion.

I decided to go walk around, with the hope that something would happen. As I was checking my pockets, to my luck, I found some money. I realized it was the cash I had grabbed back when I went to the room with Gina earlier that day. I was so careless not to remember. But at least it was like a glimpse of hope for me. I had all my savings so at least I could find myself an apartment for a while and some food for at least a couple of days until I could figure out what to do. I had to find an identity too. In that moment, I decided to name myself Martha. It was my second favorite name of all time, inspired by Martha Stewart herself. So, no longer was I Casey, the normal girl, the shy, beautiful, stupid and naïve college girl. Normality had just ended for me that day. Now, I am Martha, the strong, beautiful, patient and smart twenty-year old girl, ready to face the apocalypse again.