RUNNING OUT OF TIME

On a blank screen, we hear a heavy exhaled breaths. The blank screen unveils a man, late 30s, sleeping in the steering wheel. A soft snore escapes his throat. The soft rays of the sun blast the windscreen of the Isuzu D-Max and the man wakes up. Slowly, he opens his eyes. The sun lights his red eyes to a golden disc.

He stretches his arms. His arms are wide and scarred. His left arm is bandaged. The car has a strong smell of gasoline. His leather seats are smeared with blood stains. Despite the sun firing his eyes, a dark bottomless void shines on his eyes. He stumbles out of the car and what he sees devastates him. The whole city is covered in ruin. The only thing standing is the bridge.

He goes back inside the car and turns on the radio. The radio struggles to catch a frequency. Come on, come on says Klev slapping the radio. The radio finally catches the frequency and we hear a news reporter.

The city of Halie is devastated after a two-week storm. Families have lost their relatives and the city is torn apart. Please stay where you’re until it’s safe outside. We will bring you more news in the next hour.

Klev switches off the radio. He sits in the driver’s seat, hollow eyed, staring at the picture of his family. A family of three, his son Kevin, his wife Amir and his unborn baby. Again, he gets out of the car and lean on his car. He looks at the sky; clouds pass over his eyes and a smile rain upon his lips. He closes his eyes and an old memory play in his mind. I am pregnant, says Amir wrapped in the gown.

Are you sure, Klev asks holding his wife’s hands. Look, Amir shows him four pregnancy test kits. A smile beams on his jovial face. He engulfs his wife with a big hug. He tilts her around, her feet twirl in the cold evening air.

It was strange how fatherhood was always new to him with every child he had. His wife was eight months pregnant. A distant roaring helicopter wakes him up. He goes back inside the car. He turns on the radio and this time it catches the frequency on the first try. We hear the voice of the news reporter.

The government has implemented aids to help quite down the chaos caused by the storm. Evacuation places are in place to receive people. These people are given more than just shelter but food, clothes and medical help. We will bring you more news in the next hour.

Klev switches off the radio with a hopeful smile. Maybe his family was at the evacuation place. His heart warms at that thought. But then a dreadful thought comes. What if his family was somewhere under the ruin, helpless bleeding to death. His heart sinks at the thought. He leaves the car and walks until he reaches a bridge. He looks at it for a long time, weighing options and considering consequences.

The bridge is high as buildings in the city and down there, there’s blue water running in a turbulent flow. If he falls, he dies and he knows that. He strides carefully, his hearts beating against his ribs. He sighs and lets out a silent prayer. He lurches forward. Each step leading to his death, to his family, to the unknown. Once he’s on the middle of the bridge, the first half of the bridge breaks and collapses. Klev swallows his breath.

He strides faster but then the other end of the bridge breaks and collapses. He jumps and hangs on the cable holding a bridge. His feet dangle in the air. He gasps; he screams. Help, help, his words fall on deaf ears. Again, he lets out a silent prayer. The cable he’s hanging on cuts his hands. Blood trickles in his hands and falls on his face. He wipes the blood with one arm. Oh, shit oh shit says Klev panting.

The distant helicopter he heard before is now roaring close. A man on the helicopter sees him and calls him out. Hold on sir we are coming. The helicopter glides in the air like an eagle. The man on the helicopter throws a ladder rope. The ladder rope escapes Klev’s hands. The cable continues to cuts his hands and more blood falls on his face. He groans out loud.

Take the ladder rope sir. You can do it. Take your time, take a deep breath and jump on the rope says the man on the helicopter. Klev thinks of his family and somehow his weak body gains strength to jump to the ladder rope. He jumps to the ladder rope. The bandage covering his left arm breaks from his skin. His left arm is swollen and green.

He holds on the ladder rope with trembling fingers. As he climbs the ladder rope his heart warms up. But then he looks down. Down there in the water and what he sees devastates him. He freezes on the ladder rope for a while. What’s the matter, asks the man on the helicopter.

Klev is pale on the ladder rope. He looks down and sees the lifeless body of his son Kevin floating in the water. Tears stream down his face. The ladder rope escapes his hands and he falls down.