The day started out just as any other. I woke up stiff and stretched out across my bed, joints and bones popping with a groan. I yawn and climbe out of bed, and walk straight to the kitchen to make myself some coffee.

The gurgling sound of boiling water sputters as my coffee begins to brew, the scent fills the air, cinnamon, with strong notes of vanilla. I grab my favorite coffee cup out of the cupboard and set it next to the coffee machine.

*ping* My phone chimes with a message from my brother. “Can I borrow 20$?”

I roll my eyes. “What do you need 20$ for, you have a job don’t you?” I hit send and open TikTok.

“BREAKING NEW—“ scroll,

“BREAKING NEWS TO—“ scroll,

“chicken, banana, chicken—“ I giggle, great now that song is going to be in my head all day.

*ping* brother: “I need gas bro pleaaaase”

I open cash app and send him a 20$.

*ping* brother: “thx”

I fill my coffee mug and sniff in the aroma of the dark liquid and take a sip. I open Facebook and scroll past a bunch of political posts, ignoring them. Ignorance is bliss they always say.

I leave a few positive comments on some friends posts and lean back to enjoy my coffee.

I finish off my coffee, ready to start my day. I shower, brush my teeth, get dressed and out the door ready to work.

“Did you see the news Abby?” Susan asks me when I get to the office.

“Oh no I don’t concern myself with that nonsense”, I brush her away but she pushes on.

“They’re saying we’re going to get attacked by the Felsies! How doesn’t that concern you?”

I shrug, “Susan if the Felsies were going to attack they would have done it years ago, not now”

Susan’s shoulders sag. “I sure hope you’re right”

I nod, “I’m sure I am, trust me. The news is full of lies to keep us scared. Remember that time when they went all cuckoo for that cold a few years back and people freaked?”

She nodded. “Jimmy said the same thing. Said it’s fear mongering”

“I hate to agree with jimmy, but he’s right so don’t you worry susan” I agree with him.

A few hours go by and a loud alert is sent to our phones.

[government warning incoming missles]

Susan looks up from her phone with wide eyes.

“MISSILES??”

Everyone in the room begins to panic as they rush to leave to their loved ones. Sirens ring through the sky, and people rush out in to the streets to see as jets fly overhead.

Panic over rides my system and I run, where to, who knows. I think once you realize there’s real danger, you try to out run it.

I hear a distant rumble as bombs meet their targets as they ripple through the city. Those who keep there balance keep running, and those that fall, well, they got trampled. We were warned this would happen. Not one of us listened, or cared. We all believed we would be safe. My family crosses my mind just as heat scorches me from all over.