Snickerdoodle bars, red velvet cake, and decorated sugar cookies. I did the microwave trick to get my frosting nice and bold. So much gold luster, I feel like I'm coughing it up. Niece loved all of it so that's all that matters.
He's a sand dragon sleeping by his hoard of shells. I could have pulled back the shoreline a little bit but daughter is happy none the less. Buttercream frosting with blonde roast vanilla cake.
My grandma's later-in-life guilty pleasure film was one about a teen girl that goes to stay with her grandma: no not Georgia Rule. No, not The Lost Valentine.
While the girl is with her grandma, grandma starts telling her all about her dating life in her own teen years. She met a guy she was in love with, as soon as they were married he was shipped overseas. She received a missing-in-action letter and assumed he died. She started seeing another man who she was even more infatuated with. Come to find that her husband didn't die. He showed back up at their house and his wife did not hide the fact that she thought he was dead, and that she was seeing someone. He understood and told her she had a day to figure out what she wanted to do. He'd leave the house all day and if he got home in the evening and she wasn't there, he'd know she chose the other guy. Well when he came home she was there. She couldn't deny her long lost -and found- husband the happiness that he deserved. So she stayed with him until he passed away. Teen granddaughter decides to make it her mission to find the other guy as obviously, grandma still has feelings for him, and since Grandpa is dead now, there shouldn't be anything stopping her. In the end, there's a retirement party going on, grandma gets surprised by her ex lover, a surprise by the granddaughter, and they start dating again.
Yes I say guilty pleasure film because this was basically my grandma's life. Except her first love never made it back home. She settled for my grandpa and didn't hide it. She even talked about how, even after having 8 kids with grandpa, and 12 grandkids, if her long lost love showed back up, she'd leave all of us and run away with him.
#Part 1
Log #1 May 4th
I'm starting this log, in case I survive. Perhaps after everything, I can have this published, as part of a news journal.
We noticed the vibrations around 2 weeks ago. It was enough to gain the attention of political leaders and the news stations. Seismologists couldn't explain the readings on their charts, and so a full investigation went underway.
News crews followed scientists, as they traveled to areas of Poland where there were stronger readings. What they found was perplexing. The edges of Poland were separating, exactly on the borderline.
What we saw on the live broadcast didn't look like tectonic plate activity or anything like that; No large canyons or crevasses forming from the quake. The visual continued to appear unimaginable: The edges of the earth, where Poland separated, was absorbing all the crumbling ground around it, causing the country to raise in size.
In fact, elevation of the country had changed drastically. The edges of Poland, folding in on itself, and absorbing itself, was causing its overall shape to change, and grow in height.
A few hours after the broadcast, satellite images were plastered on TVs showing that, in fact, Poland had changed shape. It was absolutely bizarre. What was once a simply shaped country, was now shaped similar to...maybe a palm frond? Or perhaps a wonky centipede. It had a long, fat middle, with... limbs. Maybe ten? What had happened to the land between these... limbs.? I don't want to think too hard about that...
Log #2 May 5th
People have been trying to leave. It is the most obvious answer, to escape whatever reality has suddenly thrusted itself on us. News cameras broadcasted as the lines of people reached the edges of Poland.
People were all there, in cars, busses, and on foot. But what could they do? The edges of Poland were so much higher than originally. It was like being on a mountain, staring down at the other countries below.
A few folks decided to try to repel down the side. But much like the crumbling dirt, except... much more horrific, those people were absorbed directly into the side of Poland.
After a few more tragically failed attempts, we learned that anything that rolled or climbed off the edge of Poland, stood no chance of surviving.
Log #3 May 8th
There's no more power. No ground Internet. I rewrote my first logs in this journal, that I'll dedicate souly to this documentation.
Folks with generators are doing, somewhat, ok. They don't like to share their electricity too much, but are willing if you have items to trade.
Stores in town have stopped selling. Instead, as people show up for supplies, they have premade sacks ready for handing out, so families can get back to their homes as quickly as possible.
People don't like being out. The odor that Poland now gives off is quite putrid. It reminds me of a men's locker room. Almost as though the country is... sweating. I'm not trying hard to understand it..
I, personally, have collected packets of different vegetable and fruit seeds to start in my grow room. The benefits of "indoor recreational gardening" is I already have plenty of the necessary things to start quite a variety of plants to help survive.
My cat, Biscuit's not doing too good though. In fact, most all the animals, pets and livestock, are sick. And the meat isn't safe to eat. Nobody can figure that one out. All we know is it started when Poland came to life.
Log #4 May 12th
Poland has stopped!
After trading some beverages with a neighbor who has generators, I was able to charge my phone enough to get a news update, stating, Poland was, now, in Russia, close to China.
How weird it was to wake up this morning and not feel the vibrations we had all become accustomed to.
I don't know what this means. I don't know if we can leave? All I know is we have stopped. Poland has stopped.
After meeting some people in town, I observed that, the country... still stank. Of course it's worse now, because all the animals are rotting carcasses. But people still had to come out. This could be the sign that things are about to get better. What if we can leave soon?
Log #5 May 13th
Poland is still stopped, but there are very different vibrations happening. I can hear them. They are sudden, loud, and aggressive. Like tiny earthquakes.
I had to go out to the corner store today, just to see if there's any fresh water. It's very humid. The moisture in the air soaks your skin, faster that your sweat can.
I also noticed, while out, that there was billowing smoke in multiple directions. All far off in the distance.
I stopped at my neighbor's on my way back, and was able to get another update on my phone. Sinkholes were appearing across Poland. They weren't too big. Just enough for a whole house to fall. But the weird part was, after the sinkhole appear, and a structure fell in, the sinkhole would seal itself back up.
Of course this isn't normal. Nothing about this is.
Log #6 May 15th
Poland is moving again.
The vibrations seem livelier than before. Almost like the country's regenerated.
The sinkholes ended early yesterday morning. Many homes filled with families are just gone.
My plants are growing nicely. By the time the corner and grocery stores are empty, I should still be thriving, thanks to my grow room. I do miss meat though.
While Poland was stopped, a few men in bulldozers collected people's dead pets and livestock, to pile up in an empty lot. Biscuit ended up in that pile.
Biscuit was a great travel companion. I adopted him as a kitten back when I still lived in Sarasota, Fl. He came with me to California, South Dakota, France, and now Poland. What a shame that his journey ended here. Even though "here" isn't really Poland anymore... location-wise.
Log #7 May 25th
I'm having a freak-out. I believe that the sinkholes are some way of eating.
Poland is eating!
And we have no way of knowing who, or what, gets picked to disappear. Actually, there's one thing to give us a heads-up: it can only eat when it's stopped.
This last time Poland stopped, a whole town decided to gather in a community center, for fear that they'd go down with their homes. Would you believe, I was able to watch the satellite view of that entire community center getting swallowed up?!
We are dinner. It's already been decided. I can't imagine a scenario where I get off this country. Perhaps I'll leave my journal somewhere to be found, when eventually, after Poland eats everyone, it's starves to death. That's the only way this is ending.
The last time I checked the world news, the United States and other countries were out of ideas. The only thing that hasn't been tried is nuclear bombs, which isn't going to be on the table, until every human has been swallowed up.
Instead, the rest of the world is using their time, energy, and recourses to evacuate countries that, they predict, are in Poland's path. I haven't thought of what Poland might be causing, as it moves over other pieces of land...
Log #8 May 28th
Fuck this disgusting, porous, sweaty, stinky monster. Bomb it now. I don't even give a shit.
Log #9 May 29th
I got drunk with the neighbor last night. Things got incredibly heated and emotional. He told me he's going to walk to the edge and let Poland consume him.
Apparently there's a whole community of people that would rather end their life, that way, than continue on this painstaking, unknown journey.
I don't think I could do that. I was just hoping to wait this out, but now it seems, I'm... more just waiting for the sinkholes.
Log #10 same day
Perhaps I should introduce myself a little.
My name is Silas Berlam. I'm 28. Originally I was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. But I've never considered anywhere I lived to be home. I move from place to place doing odd jobs, which landed me in Florida, with an actual restoration company.
I was rather reckless on job sites. I didn't have too much fear, and really didn't value my life. At one point, it landed me in the hospital with a femur fracture, and concussion.
I ended up having to see a therapist, who recommended I get a pet, to help me see my value, through keeping something else alive.
And it worked. Biscuit became my world. He would even come with me on jobs. That's when I knew he'd be great at traveling.
I haven't spoken to my parents for years, except maybe a salutation at the holidays. Perhaps if someone finds this journal, they can let my family know how i did, during this supernatural experience. I'll leave their names and address in the back of the notebook.
Log #11 June 10th
My strawberries are growing great, but I think the carrots were a bad idea. They take so long to grow to size. And zucchini gets too big for my little room. But I may just expand gardening to the whole house.
I've been going through my neighbor's house for food. I didn't take his generator. Not out of respect, but because the other people in town have started going feral. If I were to walk out of an abandoned home with too much food, or something of value, I'd be attacked on the spot.
I did risk turning on the generator to get a news update on my phone. The whole world is watching us like an amoeba on a petri dish. Poland is beneath India now.
But it doesn't matter where we go. It's always gross and steamy. At this point, I feel like, if we were to move to Antarctica, we wouldn't freeze.
It's hard to stay hydrated. I've found what many of my neighbors were doing, was storing jars of water in their freezer (of course they're not frozen. It's basically just extra cabinet space). It's a smart move. I need to carefully bring those home, without drawing too much attention. The only water containers in my house have rain water from my gutters, for the plants.
My town appears to be lucky, as it's mostly overlooked during Poland's feedings. I say that, but I do miss the corner store at the end of my street... It was eaten about a week ago. There seems to be no real pattern to when Poland stops. Sometimes it will go a week or two; sometimes it stops after three days. Sometimes it feeds for four days; sometimes only an hour.
Log #12 June 23rd
The news hasn't changed. Poland is still moving. The elevation is incredibly different down by New Zealand.
Last time Poland stopped for a break, and to feed, was 4 days ago. That time it was only 20 homes. It's the most horrifying thing when Poland stops. You never know who's house with get sucked into the ground for consumption.
My indoor garden is doing ok. I've been living off of carrots, strawberries, and radishes.
I hope this ends soon. I hope Poland stops for good. I don't want any more death or fear. The anxiety that comes with a halt. Hopefully Poland will find it's forever spot in the world, and we can all escape.
Until then, we keep trekking. On this unknown, unforseen, and undesirable journey.
Log #13 June 30th
My street is gone. I don't know how my house is still standing. I can't get anymore updates on Poland. I have no more access to water, or power. And there are no other people. It's only a matter of time until I'm gone too.
Last time I was able to check the news, reports were made that towns were coming together to form bigger communities, in order to help each other. But I know how that ends up. How easy these communities make it for Poland to feed.
And because of that, I need to be ok with the idea of loneliness. However long it lasts. The gardening at least keeps me sane. Although, it hasn't rained in a while. I wish I knew where on Earth we are. But it must be somewhere where it doesn't rain much.
It has been extra dry and hot. Because I no longer have access to water, I decided to trek down to a popular river near the edge of town. It used to be a very popular swimming spot during the summer, and for parades in the spring. I brought four gallon-jugs to fill up. But to my surprise, this river that always flows, was bone dry. I can only assume it was absorbed by Poland. The country must also be feeling the effects of wherever we are. Possibly a desert? And while the lack of disgusting steam, coming off of Poland makes it somewhat bearable, it's also alarming.
Could Poland be getting sick?
Log #14 Date Unknown
The garden's drying up. Thankfully carrots hold moisture for quite a while.
While I no longer know what day it is, I can say that it's been over two weeks since Poland has stopped. The ground is steaming again, so I'm going to assume we're passed the desert voyage, also.
I can't tell if the days feel longer or shorter. I've lost almost all desire for food. I'm certain I'm going crazy, from lack of water and conversation.
Log #15
Poland is stopped. I took this opportunity to run. My garden is completely dried up. There was nothing holding me to my house.
I needed to make one last attempt at survival. So I ran to a neighboring town, in search for food and water.
I ended up finding an abandoned neighborhood with a few houses still in good condition. I'm set up in one of them, and plan on searching the other homes for supplies, in the next few days.
There's water here. I found at least seven 5-gallon jugs in the basement, along with a chest of nonperishable foods.
As I write this, and fill my belly, I can feel some sanity slowly creeping back.
Log #16
#POLAND IS MOVING!
The normal vibrations of the country have grown rapidly. At first I thought perhaps I would be swallowed up into the ground, but that didn't happen.
Instead, I was flung backwards, as though Poland was now moving with extreme speed. Looking outside, the trees are blowing over like a hurricane.
This is probably my last log.
I don't know what will happen next, but whatever it is, will probably end in my demise.
I don't know how much more this house can withstand. The speed at which the ground moves is not something most homebuilders think about, when designing a home.
#It's been days.
Poland won't slow down.
I've been hiding down in the basement. What I wouldn't give for any information on what's happening. The roar of the wind is terrifying.
The house above me just flew away.
I can see the sky.
I can see the ground.
I can see the Earth...
...It's getting smaller.
.
.
.
#Part 2
I sat in bed listening to the rush of the town below my apartment building: People yelling, cars honking, babies crying... Hard to believe it was 3 in the morning with how active the streets were. Those who weren't out, were glued to their televisions watching the lastest emergency update.
For Poland had changed course, and our location was on the "estimated locations list". We'd all seen what happens, when Poland climbs it's putrid, amoeba-like country over an area. We'd seen the towns, cities, countries completely leveled, from being underneath it. No homes, no grass, no trees. The only time Poland actually didn't change much landscape were those weeks it was stuck in the Sahara desert.
Now it was coming here. New regulations had the UN, NATO, FEMA, and whatever else, taking the responsibility of helping get all humans out of Polands path. Usually folks had a few days to evacuate. Some only had hours. Some people chose to stay.
I, myself, truly have stopped caring. I knew about this phenomenon at the beginning of April and no one believed me. My research lined up perfectly with that of the seismologists. But I found something else.
I found...
A heartbeat...
...and was immediately mocked.
And I get it! It's completely ridiculous for a large piece of earth to suddenly have an even, rhythmic pulse. But that was my job, at the environmental protection agency -to find life in unlikely places- and I was good at it! That's why I was known all around the world. That's why as soon as things started getting weird in Poland, I showed up to examine things, myself. Except once I made that discovery, they threw me aside. Clearly I had gone bonkers. All because I had some crazy hypothesis and acted on it.
When I first heard Polands's heart, mine nearly stopped. I called my connections with the UN Security Council, a gave my findings and concerns. I could tell they thought I was nuts, but they humoured me anyway. In the end, they asked what I wanted from them. Of course, I said I needed funding, and a crew to pursue this, and that's when they couldn't hide their laughter anymore. They said I was ridiculous for requesting so much for such an impossible theory. After that, not only did they turn me down, but they dropped all other funding also.
And so now I lay here. Listening to chaos flow over our little city of Decatur, Illinois. The light of the tv flooding my room, showing the disasters of Poland in real time.
My phone lights up, and I look to see my old buddy Jeremy calling. Fuck that guy. I let it go to voicemail. He calls two more times before I finally answer.
"Hello."
"Dammit, Jordan! Why won't you respond to us?!?"
"Gosh, I mean, I've been so busy. Studying mushrooms, and dragonflies. There's this new show out that covers both of those things along with unicorns and fairies. I mean, I can't afford to actually go out and study real ecosystems, since y'all cut my funding-
"Enough!" Jeremy took a deep breath, trying to calm down, "Look. We need you. We are willing to admit you were right, and we were wrong. We'll do whatever you want, just please say you'll meet with us, to discuss Poland."
I thought about it for a few seconds. Maybe I could stand to survive for just a little bit longer. Except... "I'm in Decatur. I'm right on Poland's path. Unless you can get me out of here, I can't help you."
"Please, we've had your location for weeks. A chopper is on its way now. Get to your apartment's roof top."
Soon I was being flown toward a convention center, states away. Out of Polands's path. For now.
Landing on the center's rooftop I could see Jeremy, and a few other gentlemen, waiting for me. We didn't shake hands, as I made it to them. They just turned and gestured for me to follow. They all looked exhausted. I forgot it was now probably 4 or 5 in the morning. but who knows how long these men have been up, trying to figure out ways to get Poland under control.
We made it to a large conference room filled with technology. TV and computer screens lined the walls. Radios and other communication systems covered the desks. There were 6 other people in the room, monitoring specific screens. This must have been the new home base for the security council.
"Take a seat" Jeremy said, "coffee?"
"Oh, yes please" I responded, casually.
Another man came and sat by me, and opened a laptop. "Hello Jordan, my name is Rodney. I'm glad you made it hear safely, but we don't have much time to rest. Here, I have put together a list of everything we need to go over"
Jeremy brought me my coffee as Rodney continued, "We're going to start at the beginning. When the earthquakes began. That was into the first week of April. A few different crews went out to do research-"
"Like me. Like when I found the heart beat and y'all dismissed me"
"Oh for the love of....just... just shut up, Jordan!" Jeremy mumbled behind me, while pinching the bridge of his nose.
Rodney continued, "By mid-April, we had confirmed that all the quakes took place on the entire border of Poland, and by that time, the edges of the country were separating from the surrounding countries.
"Also during that time is when Poland started rising in size, and changing it's shape, it caused huge quakes in Lithuania, Belarus, and Germany.
"During the first half of April, we did encourage those living in Poland to evacuate, and while we got a few hundred people out, safely, many didn't believe it was a threat, until it was too late.
"As soon as Poland had finished rising in elevation and changing shape, it began to move, which was at the beginning of May.
"As we've seen through satellite images, anything Poland moves over is consumed. Lakes dry up, and whole cities disappear.
"Planes and helicopters, more so, are nearly impossible to fly over Poland while it's moving. Our computers go haywire, causing crashes half the time. We have had a tiny bit of luck, landing aircrafts on the country while it's stopped. But it's nearly impossible to know when Poland will start moving again. Sometimes Poland is stopped for days, weeks, or just hours."
I held up my hand, "Has it been tried.... or... So, how about this scenario: we fly a plane onto Poland while it's stopped, with no intention of moving it, until the next time it's stopped. Giving people more time to all get to the plane, and more time to fly out of Poland."
"It's been tried." Jeremy looked down and sighed.
"Well, the news hasn't covered that."
"Because it failed. It seems Poland can sense large gatherings of humans. We've had completely filled planes, sink down into Poland, right before take-off."
Rodney added, "There have been some rogue pilots who've flown in and out of the country, and were lucky enough not to be consumed, and also were able to get some people evacuated. But because of the risks, we no longer send large planes over.
"We can't even get "plane alerts" out to the citizens, since they lost power. We've had planes land and stay down for days, with no one showing up."
We all sat there quietly for a moment. Then Rodney pulled up the next talking point, "Since Poland started moving, we've seen damage to Ukraine, Russia, down through Pakistan, and into India. The ocean has no affect on it, because next it crossed through Australia, down to New Zealand.
"That's kind of when we learned that Poland had no strategy to where it went. It did a 180° and headed to Africa, starting down at South Africa, and making it's way north, until it hit the Sahara, and..." Rodney squinted at his notes, "that was the end of June. We were both relieved and concerned, because in the desert, Poland got very slow. We thought it may...die? Which would stop all the chaos"
"And the concern?"
"Well, obviously, because it's getting closer to America."
"I will say, it was a pretty good try, with the nukes while Poland was in the Atlantic."
Rodney read his notes, "Yeah, that's next here: While in the Atlantic, it was decided not to nuke Poland, itself, but the water around it, hoping to change the countries course."
"Like I said... good try." I sipped my coffee.
"So that takes us to now. Poland it making it's way straight through the US." Rodney closed his laptop. He folded his hands and looked at me.
I sat there, waiting for more information. "So..what do you want from me?"
Jeremy and Rodney looked at each other and back at me, "Well. Obviously we we want to stop it. And we're running out of ideas."
Rodney added, "Of course, we don't want to bomb it. Well, we do, but we don't want to hurt the remaining people on the country."
"Frankly, if there's anyone left on Poland, I think they'd be fine with that." I chuckled.
Jeremy sat in the chair on the other side of me. He looked like he was struggling to get words out, "So... You found a heartbeat."
"Yes."
"Which... Of course means it's alive."
"That's pretty obvious."
"I'm curious, if you think..." Jeremy took a deep breath, "if you think... There's some way to communicate with it."
I stared at Jeremy, almost not believing what I just heard. I could barely take a breath, before I bursted into laughter.
The men stayed silent while I laughed. They knew how their question sounded.
I finally took a breath, "You guys thought my theory on a heartbeat was crazy, and then you ask me this?? What kind of sense does that even make?! You want to communicate with a piece of land?!" I was almost angry now.
Jeremy: "Well what the fuck else are we supposed to do?!"
Me: "It's a fucking country! A bordered piece of land!"
Jeremy: "You think I don't know that??"
Me: "It doesn't make sense!"
Jeremy: "None of this makes sense! We are out of options though!"
Me: "I actually had proof! Proof of a heartbeat, and probably COULD have figured out more about why this fucking country now has an organic anatomy, but YALL shut down my FUNDING!"
Jeremy, "Oh gosh... Because you sounded CRAZY!"
Rodney broke between us, "Guys please!" He walked over to two maps. One of Poland before it changed, and one from after. "Jordan, do you think you could remember where you were, when you discovered the heartbeat?"
I rolled my eyes and walked over to him. "What are you thinking?"
Rodney sighed, "We have an idea. I don't know if it's the best idea, but like Jeremy said, we're out of options."
I looked over at Jeremy, and then back to Rodney.
"We saw that it struggled in the desert. That means it can feel stress, maybe even pain. And that maybe it can even be killed. If we can pinpoint the heart, perhaps, we can drop just one bomb, right over it."
Now I was pinching my nose bridge, "You guys know how heartbeats work, right?;"
Jeremy and Rodney stared at me.
"Dropping a bomb over Poland where you hear the heartbeat, would be similar to, if I put a stethoscope to my foot and claimed my heart was there, because I could hear my pulse there."
Jeremy threw his arms up, "Why the FUCK did I bring you in?!"
"I don't know, Jeremy! You could have left me in Poland where I could have actually triangulated the heartbeat! We could have had a lead! Now we have nothing! We have no...."
I stared at one screen on the far wall. It was putting X's over every spot on Poland where sinkholes appeared. I walked over to the screen. Were the sink holes random? Or did they have a pattern?
I looked over at the guys, "We're going to need more coffee."
A tiny smile appeared on Jeremy's face. But it quickly went away as the room started to shake.
Rodney looked to one of the screen watchers, "Judith, where's Poland's location??"
A woman named Judith pulled up satellite images. "Ugh.... Alaska. Wait. Russia. Oh gosh, it's moving so fast!"
"Why's it going so fast??" Rodney exclaimed.
I quickly sat down at a computer and started calculating.
"What are you doing?" Jeremy asked.
"With Poland going so fast, we may have even less time. There's no way we can nuke it, at that speed. But we can be ready, for when it stops again. If it stops again."
"And if it doesn't?"
I didn't respond. There was no time. I had to hope there was some method to where the sinkholes appeared. "Judith, please keep an eye of where Poland is".
Hours went by. Maybe even days. The vibrations didn't stop. Poland hadn't slowed down. It sped over Russia, to areas north of Canada. It was doing laps around Earth. I couldn't believe we were still alive.
I was quiet. Measuring distance from sinkhole to sinkhole. Noting the places that weren't affected. And calculating the possibilities of where they could arise.
"There" I said. Rodney and Jeremy came to my side, "There's your Fucking heart!" Jeremy nearly collapsed on the table. Rodney grabbed my shoulders in a congratulatory fashion.
"Ok so where's the closest base? Who's still available? What's the next step?"
"Guys."
We all looked over at Judith.
"It's. It's coming."
My heart sank. Would this all have been for nothing?
All of us in the room looked at each other and appeared to have the same thing on our mind. There was no stopping Poland. And there wasn't enough time to evacuate.
I ran out of the room.
"Where are you going Jordan??" Jeremy followed me out. Soon everyone was following, as I climbed the stairs to the roof top.
Up on the roof, panting, I scanned the area, spinning until I saw the direction where I knew Poland would be coming from.
There it was. Who knows how far it was, but I could see it's disastrous wreckage. The smoke and dust filling the skyline.
Everyone stood around me. Some people holding each other, others silently staring. There was nothing to do but watch, until we were also absorbed by Poland.
There wasn't even time to recall my fondest memories. My childhood. My family.
There was only Poland.
"It's getting closer!" Another woman sobbed into Judith's arms.
But then something happened. As the building shook harder... as Poland got closer....
It lifted off the ground.
What were we witnessing??
I fell to my knees, as I saw the large country literally take flight.
"My God..." Rodney gasped.
We watched.
We watched it get higher.
And higher.
Until it was above the sky.
Above the atmosphere.
Poland was in space.
After MONTHS of causing chaos all over the planet...
Poland was gone.
.
2 months later...
Poland is moving.
Actually Poland hadn't stopped moving. Ever since it jumped off of Earth, it has been chugging along in space, passing other planets. People who survived Poland, have all come together to build small, close communities. Slowly, life will become normal again.
"Jordan, are you still here?" I heard a voice call from down the hall. Of course I knew who it was, and didn't respond. Jeremy popped his head into the conference room. He scanned over the dark room, until he saw me, lit up by a computer screen, in the back corner.
Quietly he came and sat by me. He cleared his throat, "Jordan. I'm concerned."
I didn't look away from the screen.
"You've been up here, by yourself for weeks now. Poland's been declared 'not a threat' to the planet for a whole month. Please, get up. Come stay with me. Come see how we've rebuilt some cities."
I sighed and looked over at him, "Not yet."
Jeremy, eyes were sad, "...I'll be back tomorrow. Please try and get some decent sleep." As he stood up, he dropped a bag of food on the desk.
He was a good friend. But I had to stay here. I had to make sure Poland didn't return. I stared at different windows on my screen. One showing earth, one showing emergency updates from all around the world, and one that sent updated images on where Poland was in space.
I had to keep watching.
I had to make sure.
Poland wasn't dead. It was just gone.
But if it came back, I knew how to kill it.
So for now, I'll just keep watch.
Husband and I are arguing. To be fair this was found in a creek that has tons of giant oyster fossils. But none of those look like this.
And it was NUTS. I've listened to the story before but was absolutely looking forward to a relisten while on the road.
Also don't recommend long drives by yourself while listening, if you have a destination. You will forget where you are. You will see things you've never seen on, what should be, familiar drives.