Saturday, September 26
The first of the leaves falling. It’s a month now since they took Molly to the hospital. I often catch myself unconsciously weeping.
Wednesday, November 4
Frost came early this year. When the electricity is on I try to warm myself. There’s the gas range, but the ration box is late again so nothing to cook.
Friday, January 8
I kept the holidays by avoiding them, draped in black as though they were mirrors in a mourning household.
Thursday March 11
Has it only been a year?
Friday May 1
The armored trucks now broadcast news through loudspeakers in the president’s voice.
For those who asked for a longer version, I have an expanded version I wrote for Prose Magazine.
You created a whole society there. One, I hope, we don’t end up living in
Dear Josh,
Well told story…though I hope it’s not prophetic.
Shalom and good health to you and Karen,
Rochelle
Thanks! My daughter is making masks for everyone in the household. Such times as these!
Wow! I hope this doesn’t come to pass! The tone of this is very harrowing.
Hopefully not, but nicely told.
Hope things get better. From ‘grim’ to ‘great’ is what I wish for our fate.
Take care.
This has left me wanting to know more!
A grim reminder of what the future may hold. If not this virus, maybe some other…
I think there might be rioting before it gets to a year. Good luck keeping your daughter entertained. My two are holding up well so far – just waiting for the novelty to wear off for them, then it will get tricky!
Oh crumbs, that was such a well written but sad take and I do hope it wasn’t prophetic.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
That’s the scary part. Once they have a lockdown, how long until it’s Martial Law? Once that goes into effect, how do you get them to lift it? Scary, but hopefully, not prophetic.
Please don’t let this be prophetic…
Well written, though
A grim image painted, let’s hope we never see it
We’re at a pivot point where anything can happen. Your guess is as good as any :(
Grim, indeed. Ration boxes, government-controlled “news”–prophetic, but I hope not.
Powerfully written, Josh. I liked your metaphor “I kept the holidays by avoiding them, draped in black as though they were mirrors in a mourning household.”
Sad and powerful, lets hope it’s only fiction. Well penned.
Impressive! You evoked an entire dystopian society in only a few sentences!
Very dystopian. I liked the way the entries got slowly worse and more terrifying
how long will evil trump over the common good? hopefully, not for very long now.