2010: 2

The lightning kept on streaking across the sky. There were electric pulses and the night air felt more alive; it had never been any better than this. Thunder collided with the air molecules and erupted into a firefight as every dog around the block barked in fear. The heavens sent down rain drops; it was crying for the future of mankind. It was easily the best storm Corinthana had ever seen and every storm-crazed teenager headed for the rooftops with a blanket and a pal, getting drenched as they watched nature's fireworks drown out any other possible sight and sound. Now that I think of it, every single member of our community had spent a period of time in that weather contemplating its meaning and timing, trying to figure out how it tied into the events happening around us, but God works in mysterious ways, and only he can stop the rain.

But it was pouring.

That night, I was one of those teenagers on the rooftops enjoying the sights and sounds and trying to remember such a time when the Earth's crust couldn't take in so much water. The drought was over. Children danced in streets, anxious for what lies before them. I let the cool water hit my face as my skin soaks it up; it's parched surface opening it's pores to absorb the substance of life. Michael, my best friend, sat beside me, his dirty-blond hair sticking to his face as he looked out at me from under his ruffled hair.

"Isn't this great!?", he seemed to yell, his smile beaming in the night, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Yeah!", and together we climbed off the roof to join our siblings in the street. We laughed and jumped and ran around on this one night of freedom, this one night of no stress. It was Thursday, October 29th, 2012, and despite what everyone may have thought, things were looking good for us.


"Hey Eve," Michael had been in his "philosophical" mode and just stirring out of it. "Do you believe what they say? Do you think it'll happen?"

"I just don't know anymore. This year has taken a turn, so it seems likely, but what about tonight? God's way of messing with us? Did he feel the need to give us hope and then turn around and crush us? If all the stories are true, then God should be better than that. Destroying us, I can see why he'd want to do that; I'd do it too if I could, but why this?" I couldn't help but ponder.

By they, we of course mean the tight-knit society of grumpy scientists looking to analyze every catastrophe as a death omen. They have had the Alliance of Scientific Minds for over ten years now, and it seems like every month they publish another article as to why December 12, 2012 will be the doomsday to all.

"I mean think about it," Michael continued on, "it's entirely possible. What happens when this whole shooting match goes down? What will it look like? Will there be volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, and balls of fire? What about an invasion of some strange life force? Will it hurt? Will it-"

"Michael!" I blurted out, I didn't want to think about all of this ending. While something indeed needed to be done about mankind, it's all too soon to process. I held myself tightly at the thought.

"Sorry Eve. I didn't mean to upset you." Michael walked away.

If only he knew how much I'd come to need him in the next few days.