The Last Day on Earth

“I wonder how long it will take for someone to snap here and start smashing windows,” Mitch said.

“Yeah, it only takes one or two people, then everyone else loses their heads and before you know it you’ve got a full-scale riot on your hands,” Lucy replied.

“God, some people are so stupid. There are people in Los Angeles looting microwaves, designer handbags, make up, clothes, jewellery…get a grip people, you’ll need food and water and candles, not the latest Gucci bag,” Jess exclaimed at the computer. Lucy just shook her head.

“Do they not realise what this means?” Jess asked in disbelief.

“I’m having a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around it myself,” said Mitch. “Besides, they might figure something out. It might not be the end.”

“Fingers crossed,” Lucy and Jess said at the same time.

Lucy sat on the front steps to her block of flats. Jess had gone back to her place a few streets away. Mitch was packing.

She looked up and down the street. It was a hot day. Normally, on a day like this there would have been a steady stream of people, with beach towels slung over their shoulders, making their way to or from the nearby beach. Today she only saw a lone man walking his dog. He nodded grimly at Lucy but didn’t say anything. She nodded back. Even the normal constant noise of the traffic on Ormond Esplanade was muted.

Lucy heard Steve before she saw him. She watched the end of the street as a young man on a motorbike came around the corner. She stood as he pulled up in front of her and took his helmet and jacket off. He came over and she slipped easily into his arms. He hugged her tight.

“Hey,” he murmured into her hair.

“Hey,” she whispered back.

They stood like that for a few minutes, bodies pressed against each other, drawing comfort, until it got too hot. They leant back and looked at each other. Steve reached down and brushed a strand of hair out of Lucy’s eyes.

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay. I guess. How are you?”

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest.”

“No, I know. I feel like pinching myself. Repeatedly. Until I wake up. It’s not working though.”

“Pity. I wouldn’t mind waking up either. Did you see the story this morning?”

Lucy frowned. “Only the looting.”

“Yeah I saw that. Just more doom and gloom. The American government announced that they have some shelters and they’re having a lottery for places.”

“Wow. Pity we’re not American. How many places do they have?”

“Almost a million.”

“A million! They must have been planning that for a while.”

“Considering there are over 300 million Americans, it doesn’t seem like much.”

“I suppose so,” Lucy said. “D’you reckon the Aussie government have any top secret shelters or a lottery planned?”

Steve shrugged. “Probably not.”

“Thanks for coming over.” Lucy hugged him again.

“I wanted to,” Steve replied. He kissed her forehead. “Want to go for a walk?”

Lucy nodded. Steve took her hand and laced his fingers through hers. They headed down the street toward the beach.

“How’s your family?” Lucy asked while they stopped at the traffic lights, waiting for the green man even though there was hardly any traffic.

“They’re okay. Worried, of course. I don’t know. Mum’s never really been the type to share her feelings. My sisters talk to each other more than they talk to me. Dad’s stuck in Hong Kong. He managed to get through on Skype this morning.”

“Will he be able to get back?”

“I hope so. He’s trying to get on the next flight out of there.”

“My Mum wants me to go home to the farm.”

“Yeah, makes sense. What about your sister? She’s in Canada, right?”

Lucy nodded. “I don’t know what Claire’s going to do. I haven’t talked to her. I just got an email from her telling me to go to Mum and Dad’s in case things get bad.”

“Yeah… you’re lucky in a way. When do you think you’ll go?” Steve asked. They reached the beach. It was empty save for a lone swimmer a few hundred metres away.

“Tomorrow. Or tonight. Mum’s pretty keen for me to get out of here.”

“Oh.” Steve looked down at his feet.

“What?”

“Well… it’s just… if they don’t get rid of this thing… I might not see you again.”

Lucy rocked on her heels.

“Why am I so dense?” she muttered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think about that…wait, that came out wrong. I just…this is so surreal.”

Steve hugged her. “Yeah, I know. It’s okay.”

“No it’s not. None of this is. It’s screwed up. This isn’t meant to happen in real life. Just movies and books.”

“I know.”

“You could come with me.”

“To the farm?”

“Yeah,” Lucy replied, warming to the idea. Steve could come with her — they’d be together. Support each other through this, like a real couple.

“What about my family?”

“Um…” Lucy thought about Steve’s domineering mother and prissy sisters on the farm. “Er…”

“Don’t worry, I’m not sure they’d like it…” Steve said. “And I couldn’t leave them. Not now. They need me.”

“Of course. I understand,” Lucy said, even though she didn’t, not yet. “But…what will you do if everything goes haywire?”

Steve shrugged. “We’ll manage.”

They stood side by side on the beach, watching the waves crash in, undisturbed.