Original Story
By Isla Vann aka Dimples33
Synopsis - Dharia was estranged from Maurice, her husband of 17 years when Mother Nature decided to strike back at an inconsiderate population. To protect their family, they put aside their differences and band together for survival. They found a place and through weeks of hard work and dedication, they made it liveable and most importantly...sustainable.
Over the past couple months groups of survivors started knocking on their door seeking shelter. They decided to let them in until one day unbeknownst to her, past hurt came trotting in, threatening to destroy everything she's trying to rebuild but also promising a brand new future.
Chapter 1
Dharia looked over at her family and was contented. Lukas, Brienne and Sinead were at their father's side, checking the clinic walls and windows for weaknesses to strengthen after a major tornado almost hit them a few days ago. She smiled down at her youngest Aaron, who was besides her assisting in carrying and securing food, blankets and other essential supplies that they had scavenged earlier inside.
There were other people moving around the clinic yard doing various things to ensure the security of their new home. Strangers seeking shelter had now become friends. New arrivals came just before the tornado. They all need to be prepared. They didn't know or could predict what was coming next. The weather can change any minute and without warning as it did in the past.
All their lives were so different nine months ago. The lives of their family, friends, neighbours, acquaintances and the rest of the world was changed forever. Lukas and Brienne were students at Sigmund High School, Sinead was in St Baptiste Middle School and Aaron attended the St Alves Preparatory where she was also a teacher. Maurice was a Building Contractor Specialist.
For years global warming groups and their advocates World Sky Watchers (WSW), Better Weather (BW), and Earth Health (EH) lobbied the government, the private sector and the public in general to take personal individual action to help curb global warming. They held seminars, rallies and protests in an effort to raise awareness of the potential devastating global threat.
They were labelled alarmist and shunned, mocked and ridiculed by almost everyone. Most of the citizenry went about their daily lives business as usual and generally unconcerned until November 9th 2017. That day, the nation woke up to a searing heat unlike anything anyone had ever experienced. No one was able to leave their homes as it was 47 degrees Celsius outside.
Those who dared to venture into their yards were rewarded with peeling skin and terrible painful blisters and burns. By the second day, the temperature jumped 7 degrees to 54. Plants withered and died within mere hours. Bulletins flashed across TV screens nationwide warning everyone to stay inside. School and businesses closed their doors.
She didn't dare open the windows and risk the heat swarming the house. The air-conditioning and fans operated at maximum. She remembered cuddling the children close, eyes glued to the TV. Lobbyist from WSW, BW and EH live streamed from their homes, sharing helpful tips on how to cope with the unprecedented heat wave.
It wasn't long before people started posting pictures of dead birds, squirrels, dogs, cats and other animals around their homes and in the streets on social media. Farmers shared videos of dying livestock and expressed frustration of not being able to do anything to help. Families looked on as cars tires, play swings and other outdoor properties melt like butter. Lawns turned black.
The populace was scared and they lashed out at the different government agencies for not heeding the earlier warnings. They wanted answers and demanded that officials work with any and all concerned interest groups. Despite their separation and living in another city, Maurice called them constantly everyday since the heat started.
He spoke to the children on loud speaker and reassured them. Aaron and Sinead cried but Lukas and Brienne put on brave faces but she could tell that they were anxious and afraid. After his assurance, she would take the phone off speaker and retreat to the kitchen. He constantly apologized to her for not being with them and told her that he still loved her despite the issues between them.
She never told him that she too still loved him. She was still hurt and angry. He had torn her heart out. She would tell him to be safe, promised to keep their kids safe and he vowed to be with them as soon as he can. The heat wave lasted for four days with a confirmed 45,000 human deaths across the country. Hundreds of thousands of pets and other animals were dead.
Millions of dollars in domestic and commercial properties were destroyed. The government ordered everyone to stay in their homes for an extra day as a precaution as they used this time to co-ordinate with the relevant authorities to clean up the nation's streets from rotting carcasses. A hotline was set up so persons who lost loved ones can call in and have their bodies removed safely.
She saw several men dressed in hazards suits visiting some of her neighbours and painful knots formed in the pit of her stomach as gurneys carrying the dead wheeled out. She asked Lukas and Brienne to keep their younger siblings away from the windows. She said a silent prayer for her neighbours loss and although it seemed selfish, she was grateful that it was them and not her.
Clean up operation lasted longer than expected but when it was done, it was declared safe to go outside. Maurice was at their home within mere hours. The kids piled into their father's arms as soon as he rushed through the front door. They held unto him, crying for dear life and he smothered them with kisses as he held them close. The sight caused her to choke up with tears of relief and she retreated to the kitchen. At the sink, she had wiped away her tears and smiled.******
To be continued......