Storytime with Rachel F Hundred

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He leans back in his chair and

gazes out of the window,

wondering if he has time before

his meeting for a coffee.

He stretches and rises, heading

for the door and pauses;

an unknown instinct screams

at him

to turn

to look.

A steel bird, sunlight

glinting off polished wings

is heading with unstoppable

purpose towards his building.

He dives for cover as his world

shatters around him.

The building trembles, shakes

with the harsh intrusion…

and then there is an eerie silence.

He crawls out from under his desk.

The window has gone and

wind blows through the office.

He shakes now; his eyes streaming see

billowing dark clouds rising.

He walks backwards, his

eyes never leaving the open vista

and reaches for the door.

It’s hot.

Too hot.

He pulls his hand away and

glances at the floor.

Smoke like death is creeping

into the room.

He stumbles back to his chair

and collapses into it,

catching sight of the treasured

photo of his family.

He reaches for it, cradles it gently

and picks up the phone.

His breath catches in his throat as

the answering machine tone

resounds down the line…

‘Honey,’ he says, ‘I love you…’