SADIE

She closed the locket, running her fingers along its heart-shaped edge. So much she had lost over the past year, but this one hurt the most. Looking out at the leaden sky, she felt a heaviness. The world had changed and she hadn’t been able to stop it. She would soon suffer the same demise as Henry, but she had water for now. For now.

It was the year 2084. In her hundred years of life Sadie had never expected to see the end of the world before the end of her life, but here she was. Almost no water or vegetation, the sky persistently a dark shade of smoke. She had forgotten what sunshine looked like, not that she could see well anymore anyway.

The sirens rang out; it was time for check-ins. The Tsuhao claimed that they did this to make sure everyone was alright, but Sadie knew better: really, this was their way of monitoring resources and pillaging whatever came available once someone finally felt the relief of death. Sadie waited for her officer to arrive.

A surprisingly kind fellow, Gordon was tall and lanky. He even paused for a brief conversation most days. Sadie knew that he could get into enormous trouble for it, which only made it seem more special that he was willing to do it for her. He couldn’t possibly do this for everyone.

Gordon arrived with a loud thump at the door. He walked right in, as usual, so that Sadie wouldn’t have to get up and risk a fall. This time something was different though. It wasn’t until later that Sadie understood what it was. They had their usual chat and Gordon even brought her a small satchel of tea leaves. This could only mean that whomever he had checked on before her, had died. They shared a cup of tea and then he was on his way.

Sadie looked at the locket again. Scratched and dimpled from years of wear, years of life. Everything had been so different before. Now it almost felt as though it couldn’t have been real. Her memories were starting to fade, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to identify what had actually happened, and what had only been a dream. Back to reality. She would have to find something to eat soon. Sadie still had a few cans of beans left from the bunker but she was trying to make them last. Perhaps today was another day to check the mousetraps.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Grace came into the apartment. The neighbour from across the hall, Grace was also alone now, and so the two women were spending more and more time together despite their 40-year age difference. Grace was the type of person who would have severely annoyed Sadie before everything changed, but now her presence was a welcome distraction. Sadie sometimes wondered if Grace felt the same way about her, but really it didn’t matter at this point.

The women chatted about nothing in particular. Finally Grace asked: “Sadie, what was it like before?” Sadie told Grace all about the beauty of the world. “And we took it for granted. We didn’t know what we had.” Perspective is a funny thing; time had helped her to forget the mundane complaints of before, which now felt insignificant. If she could go back, she would. To all of it. Sadie wasn’t ready to tell Grace about Henry yet, but perhaps one day she would. Instead she changed the subject, asking about Grace’s sore ankles.

Later in the day, Sadie thought about Gordon again. He had seemed off somehow. Her senses would not allow her to stop wondering what it was. That was one advantage to her age: she had learned how to notice small details and listen to her instincts. Her instincts were telling her something, but what it was, she could not yet determine.

The sirens again. Time for the marches. Every day the Tsuhao marched loudly through the streets, supposedly demonstrating their power and military prowess. Honestly, at this point, Sadie knew better: they were marching to intimidate anyone still remaining in the city. There had been an attempted uprising years back. The violence had been overwhelming, and nearly everyone involved had been killed. Including Henry. He had done the right thing, but he had paid dearly for it.

Absent-mindedly watching the marches from her window, Sadie couldn’t help musing about the absurdity of the scene. The Tsuhao chanting and marching with military precision through empty streets full of detritus. It was a wonder that they could even stay in formation, considering all of the garbage that had collected there. Sometimes people covertly put their garbage in the middle of the street on purpose, just to make the marches more difficult. Sadie admired their courage, but it was an enormous risk to take.

After the marches Sadie decided to go and smell the tea that Gordon had brought. She couldn’t afford another cup, not with the water shortage, but she could at least smell the leaves. Lavender. Where could he possibly have found such a luxury item? Even if it had come from the check-in before hers, it was surprising to think that it had still existed at all. Smelling the leaves, she smiled, thinking of the days when she had lavender-scented baths that could last for hours.

Suddenly Sadie’s hand slipped and the tea satchel fell to the floor. Cursing, she tried to pick up the leaves as carefully as possible, so as not to crumble any of her precious tea. As she picked them up, though, she noticed a crumpled note. It must have been in with the tea; how odd. Carefully unfolding it, Sadie read it: “Get out. Now. - Gordon.”

For a moment she couldn’t understand. She reread the note several times before she finally realized that this must have been what she had sensed earlier. She had to think. One wouldn’t write a note like this without good reason; a message like this, from an officer, was grounds for his execution. Gordon must know something.

Sadie wondered if she should tell Grace, but even though they were all each other had left, she couldn’t trust her. Not with this. Gordon had taken this risk to help Sadie, and she couldn’t betray his trust. She put the locket around her neck, feeling once more the sensation that she had felt the first time Henry had helped her put it on. She couldn’t pause for sentimentality; she had to focus.

Slowly she opened her door and checked the hallway. It was empty. She didn’t know where to go, but the note had said to get out. She would have to think has she went. She took the stairs on her hands and knees; she wasn’t stable enough any other way. So far so good. She opened the main door just far enough to be able to see the street. There was an officer walking in her direction; she would have to wait. What if she got caught? She didn’t know, but she had heard the rumours.

Finally the officer was out of her sight, and hopefully gone. She waited an extra minute just to be sure; she didn’t trust her eyes. Carefully, Sadie opened the door and slipped out, for what she sensed might be the last time. The ashen sky looked as though it might explode at any moment with acid rain. She would have to hurry; the rain was perhaps even more deadly than the Tsuhao. Sadie tottered along, looking for any overhang she could dip into. Most of them were gone now, having been worn away by the rain. She thought about where to go. Perhaps she could find a bunker, but by now most of them had been flooded and destroyed with the acid rain. She thought about the irony of the bunkers being flooded, while also having so little water on which to live. Such was the way of the world now.

Suddenly Sadie noticed an officer coming toward her. If only she had better eyesight she might have seen him earlier, but now he was only a few feet away. He must have seen her; she had to think on her feet. He shouted, “You, there! Stop!” He approached. “What are you doing out here; show me your permit.” Sadie, of course, didn’t have one.

Quickly she realized that this was a moment where she could use her age to her advantage. “I don’t know why I am here. I was home and now I am here, and I don’t know where I am.” The officer sighed and took her by the elbow. “I see. Let’s take you back to the ward, then, and process you.” Success: at least for now, Sadie had avoided being thrown straight into jail, never to be seen again. They walked to the ward in silence, Sadie struggling to keep up. She hadn’t remembered being this winded the last time she had gone outside. That had been years ago, however.

The ward was teeming with officers. At one of the nearby desks, Sadie spotted a tall figure. Gordon? Yes, Gordon! She didn’t dare try to make eye contact, but she felt better knowing that he was there. She wondered if he had noticed her, and she hoped he wouldn’t blow the story that she had told the officer in front of her, who was now asking her questions that she pretended not to be able to answer. Finally he gave up and left her sitting there while he went in search of coffee, just one of many items that were only available to officers. She could see why people volunteered for the officer role, even with its exigences.

At some point later Sadie was woken by a gentle touch on her shoulder. Gordon. She must have fallen asleep somehow, despite the uncomfortable chair. He tried to whisper something but she couldn’t hear him. Gordon disappeared briefly, then returned with a pair of handcuffs. He loudly announced that he was taking this woman downstairs for further questioning. Gently put the handcuffs on her, he gave her a look. She followed him as he lead her out of the ward and into the street.

Eventually Sadie and Gordon arrived at a tall building. It had clearly been fortified because it showed unusually few signs of wear. She had countless questions but she knew better than to ask. Gordon lead her upstairs to a small but tidy apartment. Finally they were alone. “Stay here.” He said, taking off the handcuffs.

Sadie felt for the locket again. There was comfort in the memories it held, as long gone as they were. Soon Gordon arrived with a tattered blanket and a bowl of something resembling stew. Remembering that she had not yet eaten, Sadie was suddenly ravenous. As she ate, Gordon explained: “Sadie, they’re bombing tonight. Everyone not in a fortified building will be killed, and I couldn’t let that happen to you. You remind me so much of my mother, and I’ve done so much harm in this world. Helping you is the one good thing I can do. Please stay with me and let me take care of you.”

Sadie didn’t know what to say, and Gordon had to leave again. “Be quiet,” he warned, before telling her that he would be back as soon as possible. Perhaps accepting his offer was the one good thing she could do, as well. At this point she could do nothing to help the world, but maybe she could help Gordon in this way. He had been good to her. As she heard the day’s last set of sirens, signifying blackout time, she decided that yes, she would stay with Gordon. Whatever time she had left, she wanted it to be positive. Sadie had lost a lot, but she wasn’t ready to lose everything just yet.