The Storm

We knew that the storm was coming - they had told us often enough. Perhaps what was surprising was the speed with which it had arrived and ultimately - its strength. 

The person who knew about these things - told us that there might be several deaths but not too many. ‘Not too many’ – I remember his exacts words. When it became hundreds, then thousands, they stopped counting and more importantly stopped talking about it.

Then one day, it all ceased. There was a peace and tranquillity that we had not known for a very long time. People came out from their shelters and mixed and danced. Loved and lost. 

We buried those who had gone – the many who had perished. They warned us that it wasn’t over, many of my friends and family stayed in their shelters, believing that the end had not arrived.

They were correct.

You see the peace was only the Eye of the Storm. As the rest of the storm passed through, those who had mixed and danced and who had loved and lost were caught out there. We could see them through the windows of our hiding places.  They perished, believing that the worst had passed.

Perhaps they were right, ‘though. To have tasted normality for a short time and then be no more – or to hide forever in the underground staying safe.

Who knows?

Bobby stevenson 2020