OUR LAST DAY ON EARTH EPISODE 5
2907 Words
*Episode 5*
The dream was blowing fresh.
It was a lovely evening. Golden light through the window.
Lumi was sitting by the window with a notebook in her lap. The pen moved fast. Pages filled with sketches, ideas, stories.
“Lumi ma. Lumi ma.”
Her mother’s voice. Soft. Proud.
Lumi looked up and smiled. Ink on her fingers.
“What a young gracious child,” her mother said, touching Lumi’s hair. “At this age you have a dream. I’m so proud of you.”
“Lumi ma. Lumi ma. LUMI MA!”
The voice changed. Louder. Urgent.
Lumi jolted awake with sweat on her forehead. Her chest was rising and falling fast.
She blinked.
White ceiling. White walls. The smell of antiseptic.
Hospital.
Two nurses stood beside her bed.
The older one, Nurse Grace, had a thermometer in one hand and a clipboard in the other. The younger one, Nurse Tolu, was checking the IV stand.
“Morning,” Nurse Grace said gently. “You gave us a scare there. Just checking on you.”
Lumi sat up slowly. Her arm throbbed. She looked to the other bed.
Empty. Neatly made. The sheets folded.
Her chest sank.
On the bedside table was a folded piece of paper with her name on it: _Lumi_
She picked it up with trembling fingers.
_Dear Lumi,_
_Sorry I have to leave so early. Didn’t want to keep my siblings waiting. They’ll be worried._
_You were sleeping so peacefully, so I didn’t want to disturb you._
_I left my home number with the nurses. Call me when you’re discharged so I know you got home safe._
_— Ethan_
Lumi read it twice. Then a third time.
“So he… couldn’t wait for me to get up,” she whispered. Her voice was hoarse.
Nurse Tolu noticed. “Is he your brother?”
Lumi shook her head. “No. Just… a close friend. We met yesterday. During the… incident.”
Nurse Grace pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed. “Ah. The 5th Street thing. You two were brought in together.”
Lumi nodded. “Was he… was he treated well before he left?”
Nurse Grace sighed and looked down at the clipboard. “We tried to get him to stay for a full check-up and observation. But he was in a hurry. Kept saying his younger ones were home alone.”
. “I told him to at least take painkillers, but he said he’d buy some later.”
Lumi’s heart squeezed. “Did he at least change out of the hospital gown? Did you give him back his clothes?”
Nurse Grace nodded. “Yes dear. We washed them and patched the tear on his shirt. He looked presentable. He even helped us make his bed before he left.”
Lumi exhaled. “Okay. That’s good.”
There was a quiet pause. Only the beeping of machines down the hall.
Nurse Tolu tilted her head. “You two looked close. For just meeting yesterday.”
Lumi looked away. “He… he pulled me out. From the diner. If not for him—”
She didn’t finish the sentence.
Nurse Grace reached out and patted Lumi’s hand. “You’re safe now. That’s what matters.”
Lumi straightened her back. “Can I… use the hospital cellphone? Just for one call. Please.”
Nurse Grace stood up. “Of course. Come, it’s at the nurses’ station.”
The nurses’ station was bright and busy. Phones ringing, nurses walking past.
Nurse Tolu handed Lumi the corded phone. “Take your time. But not too long, okay?”
Lumi nodded and dialed. Her fingers were shaking.
It rang once. Twice.
“Hello?” A cheerful, loud voice. “Shopkeeper here! Good morning!”
Lumi closed her eyes for a second. “It’s me.”
There was a sharp gasp on the other end. “Madam?! Lumi?! Is that you?! Is everything alright?! Why are you calling from a hospital number?!”
“I’m fine,” Lumi said quickly, forcing her voice to sound steady. “Shopkeeper, calm down. I’m fine.”
“Fine?!” Shopkeeper’s voice went up an octave. “Madam, I was so worried! You didn’t come to the shop yesterday evening and you’re not picking your phone. I thought— I thought something happened to you!”
Lumi swallowed. “Something did happen. But I’m okay now. Just a slight headache. I came to the hospital to check.”
“A headache?!” Shopkeeper said. “From hospital? Madam please, tell me the truth.”
Lumi paused. She couldn’t say explosion. Not on a hospital phone.
“I slipped,” she lied softly. “On the pavement near the shop. Hit my arm. The doctor said I just need rest.”
There was silence. Then Shopkeeper sighed, relieved. “Oh thank God. Thank God. I was about to call the police. Please take care of yourself, madam. Rest well.”
“We won't have the shop open today,” Lumi said. “That’s why I’m calling to take the day off today.”
“What?!” Shopkeeper said.
Lumi said. “I just… I have a lot of things to do today. Personal things. So please, stay home. Rest too.”
Shopkeeper hesitated. “Are you sure? You sound tired.”
“I’m sure,” Lumi said. “Please. For me.”
“Okay ” Shopkeeper said finally. “I’ll stay home. But you must promise to call me later and tell me you’re home safe.”
“I promise,” Lumi said, and managed a small smile. “Thank you, Shopkeeper. You’re the best.”
“Take care, madam,” Shopkeeper said, and hung up.
Lumi handed the phone back to Nurse Tolu. Her hands were still shaking.
Back in Room 214,
“Doctor says you’re alright to be discharged,” she said. “Just take it easy. Change the bandage every 2 days. Come back if the pain gets worse.”
Lumi nodded. She stood up slowly. Her legs felt weak.
“Here,” Nurse Grace said, “This is Ethan’s number. He wrote it down for you.”
She passed a small slip of paper. A number scribbled in blue pen.
Lumi took it and tucked it into her pocket.
“Do you have someone to pick you up?” Nurse Grace asked.
Lumi shook her head. “No. I’ll manage. It’s not far.”
Nurse Tolu frowned. “Be careful on your way, okay? And eat something.”
“I will,” Lumi said.
She walked out of Room 214. Down the bright hallway. Past the nurses’ station. Out the big hospital doors.
The morning sun hit her face.
In her head the list started forming:
_Go home first. I have the shop key._
_Then go to the shop. Use the shop ATM to get money._
_Buy a new phone. A new memory card. A new camera. New ATM card. Everything is gone._
_Start fresh._
She took a deep breath. “Time to start fresh.”
---
The parlor was quiet. Too quiet.
The clock on the wall said 7:45 AM.
Ada was sitting on the couch, staring at the door. Her eyes were red.
Tunde was in the kitchen, opening and closing cupboards.
Tunde sighed loudly. “Ada, there’s nothing to eat. Rice finished. Bread finished. Everything finished.”
Ada didn’t answer.
Tunde came out and sat beside her. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been like this since morning.”
“I’m still worried,” Ada said quietly. “Ethan hasn’t come home.”
Tunde leaned back. “But he called us yesterday . Said he’s fine. Said he tripped and he’s in hospital. Don’t worry yourself or he’ll worry too when he comes back.”
Ada turned to him, frowning. “You’re not worried at all? Ethan didn’t return home last night! What if something happened to him?”
“Calm down—”
_BANG_
The door burst open.
Ada shot up so fast she almost fell.
“ETHAN?!”
She ran and threw her arms around him. Tears immediately fell.
“Ethan! What happened?! I was so worried! Where were you?! Are you hurt?!”
Ethan hugged her back tightly. “I’m okay. I’m okay, Ada. Don’t cry.”
He looked over her shoulder at Tunde.
Tunde had his arms folded. “See? I told you he’d come back.”
Ethan let go of Ada and shut the door behind him. “Sorry I’m late. It was… complicated.”
Ada wiped her eyes and pulled back to look at him. “Are you sure you’re okay? Let me see your arm.”
“It’s just a small cut,” Ethan said. “Hospital cleaned it. I’m fine.”
He walked in and dropped his bag on the chair. “Have you guys eaten breakfast?”
Ada crossed her arms. “How will we eat breakfast when our brother hasn’t come back since last night? The house is empty, Ethan. No foodstuff. No money.”
Tunde nodded from the couch. “We’ve been managing on water since yesterday evening.”
Ethan’s face fell. He reached into his pocket to say “Looks like I’ll go buy—”
Then he froze.
His hand patted his empty pocket. Again. He remembered that his Wallet. Phone. ATM card. All got Lost in the diner during the explosion
The worry flashed across his face for half a second.
Ada saw it. “What’s the problem?”
Ethan forced a smile immediately. “Nothing. I just… I forgot something at the hospital. My discharge paper. I need to go back and collect it.”
Tunde raised an eyebrow. “Now? But you just came back.”
“It’s important,” Ethan said quickly. “For work. I’ll be right back. Don’t worry.”
He turned and walked out before they could ask more questions.
Outside, he exhaled hard. He leaned against the wall for a second.
Today was his day off.
He had no money. No phone. No way to buy food......
---
The house was quiet.
Lumi unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The first thing she heard was a soft meow.
“Hey boy,” Lumi whispered.
*Rico* came running from the living room, tail straight up. He circled her legs twice, then stood on his back legs like he was asking to be picked up.
Lumi bent down and scooped him into her arms. He was warm.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured into his fur. “I’m so sorry I was gone.”
Rico purred loudly and nudged his head under her chin.
She carried him to the kitchen. The bowl was empty. The water dish too.
“Let’s fix that, huh?”
She poured premium dry food into his bowl and filled his water with fresh filtered water.
Rico ate immediately, glancing up at her between bites.
Lumi watched him for a second. Her chest felt tight.
“I missed you too,” she whispered.
She left him eating and went down the hall to her room.
Dropped her hospital paper bag on the bed. Her clothes from last night were inside, washed and patched. She didn’t want to wear them again.
She walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
The hot water hit her shoulders and she closed her eyes.
She stood there for a long time. Washing the hospital smell off. Washing the dust off. Washing the night off.
She scrubbed her arm gently around the bandage. Brushed her teeth twice. Brushed her hair until it stopped tangling.
When she got out, she wrapped herself in a towel and stared at herself in the mirror.
Tired eyes. Pale. But alive.
She dressed slowly. Clean designer jeans. A black silk top. She tied a scarf over her head and carefully covered the bandage on her arm with her sleeve.
Put on light makeup just to look human again.
Only then did she go to her drawer.
She opened it and took out two things: her *house key* and the *spare shop key* on a small silver ring.
She held them in her palm for a second.
_First home. Then shop. Then phone._
She checked on Rico again. He was curled up on the couch now, full and sleepy.
“I’ll be back soon, okay?” she said softly and scratched behind his ear.
Rico flicked his tail but didn’t get up.
She locked the door behind her and stepped out into the morning.
---
5th Avenue was empty this early.
Lumi walked to her shop. The glass doors. The logo. Everything looked the same from the outside.
She used her spare key to unlock it.
Inside, it was quiet. Clean.
So nobody was here.
Lumi walked behind the counter. Checked the safe. Everything was untouched.
She didn’t take cash. She had cards. But her wallet and phone were gone in the diner.
She locked up again and stepped out.
Next on her list: _Phone. Camera card. Charger. SIM card._
Normally she’d just call her private phone dealer. The one who brings her the new models in a case.
But her phone was gone. And she didn’t remember the number by heart.
Lumi pushed the glass door open. A small bell dinged above her.
The shop was small and packed. Glass cabinets with phones. Chargers hanging on the wall. The smell of plastic and dust.
And shouting.
The shop owner, a man in his 40s with a cap, was standing behind the counter. His face was red.
“You think I’m stupid?!” he yelled, pointing. “You pick up the phone and you’re walking to the door like that?! Answer me!”
On the other side of the counter was *Ethan*.
He had one hand on a cheap black phone in a plastic case. His other arm had the small bandage.
He looked tired. Cornered.
“ I’m not running,” Ethan said quickly, voice low. “I just... I need the phone. I’ll pay you back tomorrow. I promise. I just need to make some calls first, then I’ll bring the money.”
The owner slammed his hand on the counter.
“Pay tomorrow?! You and who?! You don’t even have 500 in your pocket! Put it down!”
Lumi stopped walking. Her eyes went straight to Ethan.
He looked up at the same time.
For half a second neither of them moved.
The owner noticed Lumi and turned, still angry.
“Can I help you, madam? Or do you also want to take phone and run?”
Lumi ignored him. Her eyes didn’t leave Ethan.
“Ethan?” she called out, soft but clear.
“Lumi?”
The owner looked between them, confused. “You two know each other?”
Neither of them answered.
Lumi took one step forward.
“What are you doing here?” she asked Ethan.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. He looked embarrassed.
He didn’t talk. He just gestured at the phone in his hand.
The owner crossed his arms. “See? He wants to collect phone on credit. No money. No ID. Nothing.”
Lumi’s jaw tightened. She looked at the owner with a frown, then back at Ethan with a smile.
"Leave it to me" She said while taking the phone from him......
- Writer
