January 1 2013

Everyone is stood in a large circle with drinks in hand, they’re all singing and moving around to a tune on the television . Everyone is having a wonderful time . Suddenly, once the singing stops and everyone raises their drinks into the air, a symphony of crashes and loud bangs burst from the television and from outside. A chill runs down my back as I scowl away into a corner to escape from the bangs and bright beams that spray into the room. Katie sees my fear and calls me towards her, she picks me up and takes me into the bedroom as she places me down on the bed and sits down with me

“It’s okay Milo, the bangs are gone now, there’s nothing to worry about anymore. Just stay in here, the bangs aren’t going to hurt you”

Katie stays with me, with her hands as smooth as a newborn laid on my back as she runs them up and down my back for the next five minutes, those five minutes felt like forever. A lifetime of comfort, warmth and protection from the harsh wonders and evils of the outside world. Katie leaves and shuts the door as I sit in the spot she left, safe in the comfort of her presence.

January 1 2053

In a tale as old as time itself, the family gather in the living room with their bright plastic cups filled with highly potent beverages and take in the celebrations of the new year , as they all dance around the living room to the bright displays on the television. A large flash of bright lights and harrowing screeches blares in from an open window , the screeches are ones that sent chills throughout me a long while ago, but now remind me of a simpler time, one in which I scowled and scurried away from the light . I see Katie, sat down with a cup in her hand, feet firmly on the floor leant against her chair. I see her and make my way down from the chair and jump into her lap, the jump startles Katie awake as she had been asleep.

“Oh, my dear Milo! Isn’t it so good to see you”

The words echo throughout your head as i rest in Katie’s lap , as she runs her now withered and frail fingers across my back for the next five minutes. Those five minutes take me back to a time when Katie could get up from her chair, when she could pick me up and lead me to the bedroom , where she could lay with me and protect me from the horrors of outside .

Those five minutes felt like forever.