Olivia

Startled by the flashing image of what looked like an enormous white, yellow, orange, and black mushroom filling the sky eight-year-old Olivia jumped to her feet in search of her mother to tell her of the horrible dream she had. Olivia was shocked to find nothing, but dark ash filled skies and sporadic fires. She continued the search for her mother. What seemed like hours had went by, the skies fell darker. Olivia was exhausted and desperate to find water to quench her thirst and hopefully remove the awful taste in her mouth she familiarized with that evening she hid a coin in her mouth she had taken from her father’s coat to buy an ice cream. Just as her knees began to fall limp like the Fettuccine noodles mama made for supper what Olivia believed to be the night before there was a loud boom. Frightened Olivia regained her strength and began sprinting away from the sound. Not getting far Olivia tripped over a rock or piece of wood; she did not know which and was not concerned her concentration was on the burning pain she felt on her knee. In tears Olivia rocked back and forth while clutching her scraped knee. Olivia wiped away her tears and rose slowly when she noticed a shine in the darkness that was not emitted from one of the fires. Afraid, but curious nonetheless she walked to the shining object. Olivia kneeled and picked up the most beautiful heart-shaped locket she had ever seen. Olivia was fascinated by finding such a beautiful, untarnished locket amidst such destruction. But what was most intriguing finding a picture of her mother and father in the opened locket she had never seen before. Tears cascading down her cheeks she smiled as she whispered mama. Using the preposterous amount of light, the heart-shaped locket gave off and thinking her parents must be near Olivia decided to continue her search. Somewhere down the line her exhaustion must have gotten the best of her. Olivia’s eyelids began to separate as she gazed around in confusion. Mama? Papa? OLIVIA, her mother, and father shouted. Slipping the locket into the pocket of her night dress Olivia jumped up. MAMA! PAPA! She yelled running in the direction of their screams. Cracking sounds, arms flailing Olivia let out a fearful scream as she began falling through the ground. Squeezing her eyes shut just before she hit the ground; her eyes popped open as she fell into his arms. Bursting into tears PAPA! She cries. I was lost in the dark with fire looking for you and mama. I was so scared, all alone, please do not ever leave me like that again. Calm down Olivia it was just a dream her mother said while taking her into her arms. No mama it was real, I know it was real! Her mother laid Olivia’s head on her shoulder, as she stroked her hair. Olivia, sweetheart what happened to your knee the dad questioned? I fell when I was running to find you and mama. And when I was holding my knee, I found this; Olivia pulled the untarnished locket out of her night dress. Her parents gave one another a puzzling look. That is beautiful dear but where did you get it? The mother asked. I told you I found it when I was looking for you. Maybe you lost it when you were looking for me. Olivia honey you have been in bed, none of us have left this house and I never seen that locket before! Sweetheart have you seen this locket before, the mother asked while looking at her husband. No, never! Olivia this is not funny just tell us the truth dear. Mama I told you I found in when I was--A thunderous BOOM, a wave of fire in the form of an enormous white, yellow, orange, and black mushroom, dark smoke filled the skies. The ground was heaps of grey ash, no buildings, no sign of life anywhere. Nothing. Complete destruction of mankind.