Invisible Sky

“Where’s the sky mummy?”

“It’s still there. We just can’t see it.”

“Is it invisible?”

“”Yes, I guess it must be.”

“Will we see it again?”

“Yes, of course we will.” Well, we’ll have to. Our food and drink supplies are enough to last two years, after that we’ll have no option but to see what’s there, on the surface.

We were planning to increase the store to five years, but it wasn’t a priority. Since Silky was born we haven’t had money to spend on our End of The World Project. I had to quit my job and even though Mike was working silly hours the money was only just enough to cover our bills.

“Good. I get bored here. I want to go out and play.”

“Don’t be silly. What’s mummy told you a thousand times. There’s been a nasty accident and it isn’t safe to leave the bunker. Not even for a minute. You have to stay here. You’ve lots of toys, games and books here – you don’t need to go out.”

“I miss my friends.”

“We all miss our friends, but it’s not safe to go outside.” We’ll probably never see our friends again. Maybe there is only us. Who else would have survived, who else is stupid enough to spend their savings on a nuclear shelter?

“I remember the sky, though. It’s blue isn’t it mummy.”

“On a fine day, yes. The sky’s blue, with a bright yellow sun, and fluffy white clouds.”

“And birds. Don’t forget the birds flying through the sky and singing in the trees.”

“That’s right. Birds and their beautiful birdsong.” I wonder if the birds are dead. I wonder if anything is alive.

“And grass is green isn’t it.”

“And green grass and there are flowers of all colours.” They’re probably dead too. The earth above us is probably a desolate desert.

“I miss the flowers.”

“We all miss the flowers, honey.”

“Can daddy see the sky mummy?”

“Of course not. Daddy’s in a bunker like this one. Everyone’s in bunkers.” Everyone that’s alive that is.

Mike never mentioned having a shelter at work, but then again, he must have gotten the idea from somewhere. And they’re an important government contractor, they’re bound to have had bunkers for their executives.

“The sky could go away on holiday and nobody would even notice.”

“It won’t go on holiday though, will it? It will still be there when we leave.”

“Of course it will. The sky will always be there.”

It’s been over a year now. Within twelve months we will have to go outside, to see if the sky really is still there. To see whether anyone else is alive. To see whether there’s food, any there’s any drinkable water. What will await us? A desert, devoid of all life, or a wilderness where desperate, murderous scavengers fight for every last crumb of food?

It’s a twenty-five mile walk to the part of London where Mike worked. When we leave the bunker we’ll make the journey. If we’re lucky we’ll find an abandoned car that still works. If not, we’ll make the hike, taking with us as much food and water as we can carry.

For all the fears though I long to see the sky, feel the sun, to run through fields. Maybe, without man to muck things up, the world is already teaming with new life. Maybe will emerge into a paradise on earth. Maybe.