Dropping Like Flies
Friday
May 17, 2061
7:32
"ALIYAH," Mom yells while I’m grabbing my stuff and turning off my lights. Right before I step out, I make sure I’m not forgetting anything, she then yells my name again.
“Coming!” I respond while running down the stairs. “Sorry, I was looking for something,” I add. She nods and opens the door while I go outside to the car. Waiting for her to unlock it, I glance at my phone...
El Bozo Elijah & Alex
Alex: Aliyah, where u at?? You ain’t on the bus -07:34
“Ready?” Mom asks while she unlocks the car then gets inside, I do the same while nodding and looking back at my phone.
Two more notifications
I unlock it and glance at the text messages. While reading, I happen to catch a smile on my lips. They may not say it, but they love me. Right before I respond, my mother starts talking. “Did you grab extra pods for your mask?” I shake my head.
“No, but there should be way more than enough,” I responded while, once again, looking at my phone. I saw more notifications.
“Alright... just please be safe. More than fifty people died today, just in the county. I don’t want that happening to you...” She mumbles the last few words, which makes my stomach turn just thinking about what’s happening to the world. Then a flashback hits me...
“Whatcha watching?” I asked while climbing on my dad.
“Nothing much kiddo, just the news,” He smiles and rubs my back. “Hm?...” He hums, which makes me look at him. He then turns me to look at the tv.
Television:
News Reporter: “This is Sindra Mcanny, reporting to you live from channel 12. We have a special guest from the government coming to tell everyone a message, give it up for our president, Hade Giase!.”
Hade Gaise: “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. As you know, there is a huge overpopulation right now. There’s more than 20 percent of the homeless than what it was in 2023. We took time and effort into thinking about this. On this day, March 15, 2054, in five minutes. WILL BE THE ONLY TIME the air won’t be intoxicated. But after?...” He softly chuckles... “Air will be used from either your home, if you can pay for it, or gas masks. This will not only bring the population down but will also give us more funds,”
“What.” My dad quickly shot up and ran to my mother. I get up and slowly follow behind, eavesdropping on the conversation. “Arline. What the fuck,” Uh oh... That means it’s really bad... Daddy rarely cusses.
“I- I don’t know Marshall!” She responds “What about Aliyah?! She’s only eight! What about all of the kids in general?!” Momma yells, what is going on?... “We need to act. Now. You grab Aliyah, I’ll go find masks. We should have three from your job?...” They both nod and separate ways. Daddy sees me and kneels to get to my level...
“Aliyah?” She glances at me through the rearview mirror while I snap out of my thoughts.
“I will Ma...” I mumble while looking at my phone.
Seven more notifications
El Bozo Elijah & Alex
Alex: Hellloooo? Aliyahhh? -07:40
Alex: Aliyah -07:41
Alex: Aliyah -07:41
Alex: Aliyah -07:41
Alex: Aliyah -07:41
Alex: Aliyah -07:41
Alex: Aliyah -07:42
I guess Elijah told him to stop spamming me, I swear, being 16 he sure is a kid at heart. Guess I should respond to them now.
Aliyah: Mb mb, I woke up late lol😭 -07:56
Aliyah: Miss me that much??? -07:56
I just love how you can hide your emotions with a text...
***
“How many today so far?...” I ask Elijah while he turns to me and slightly looks down, he then looks at Alex, who does the same thing. That’s not good...
“Uhm... Well, for one...” Alex tries to finish but tears up. I instantly hug him and sigh... He hugs back and swallows. Elijah finishes for him.
“One that we know of, happened on the bus. He was just screaming... I had to pull Alex back from helping...” He clears his throat.
“...Oh...” That’s all that comes out of me. “I- I don’t know what to say...” There goes the stuttering, which only happens when I’m nervous. I let go of Alex once he somewhat calmed down. “Let’s go to class, it’s a study hall so we can just chill...” I speak while glancing at Alex.
Right when I’m about to speak again, I have another flashback...
“Daddy!” I scream with tears falling down my face. “Stop! Please!...” He was coughing hard and clutching his chest... “I can... I can help!” My voice weakens while I try to take my mask off, but he stops me...
“Aliyah! No!" He yells... His voice was scratchy and breaking... “Promise me,” He takes a deep breath. “Promise me you won’t take it off until your mother says to.” I was too frozen to say anything. “Promise me!” He snaps and coughs...
“I... I promise...” I mumble, he then nods and opens his mouth.
“I love...” He tried to speak, but it was too late...
“Aliyah?” Elijah snaps his fingers at my eyes. “Are you alright darling? You seem out of it today...”
“Oh... Sorry... Yeah, I’m good... Let’s just get to class,” Lying isn’t always the best, but I don’t want to talk about this. Just put on a face and get through today... I think to myself while Elijah starts talking.
“Alright,” He ruffles his hair and leads the way. Once we start following, Alex, thankfully, changes the conversation.
“You should cut it-,” Nope. I instantly cut him off.
“ABSOLUTELY not. He would look like a weasel. I rather not hang out with a weasel,” Elijah acts like he’s hurt and places his hand over his heart.
“Owchhh...” He chuckles and opens the door to the classroom. “After you princess,”
“Well thank you,” I head to go inside, to have a hand grab my arm. “What?”
“I said princess, not frog,” My mouth drops the second he says that.
“Nope! I’m out!” Alex hurries inside while I glare at Elijah before mouthing the word “Bitch” and going inside the room at the same time. He replies with an “I love you too” and chuckles before following me from behind. I hate him so much, well... kinda. Let’s be honest, I would be nothing without either of them.
***
“What class y’all got next?” I ask while grabbing my stuff and glancing at my phone.
“We got the same classes as you on even days dumbo” Elijah sticks his tongue out after speaking.
“Man screw you” I respond while playfully rolling my eyes. “Let’s just go” I murmured while leaving the room and going to our next class. “Yo Alex,” I grab his attention before finding my seat and sitting down, Elijah, like always, sits down beside me.
“What’s up?” he asks while sitting beside Elijah.
“You mind giving me the answers from the homework?” I ask.
“Not at all,” He yawns while grabbing the sheet and handing it to me. I then grab it and nod as in a “thank you”. Once I’m done, I hand it back.
“When is the first bell gonna ring?” As soon as Elijah finishes the last word, it rings. “Perfect timing,” He mumbles before propping his legs on the table and resting his hands behind his head. Soon enough, the teacher goes inside the class and sits at his desk.
“Good morning class,” He says while in return, he gets a faint mix of “morning” and “Good morning’s”. “As we do every class,” While he’s talking, Mr. Gaige happens to glance at Elijah. “Elijah. Get your legs off my table,” Elijah sighs and slowly takes them off, he then looks at the window and from what I assume, gets lost in his thoughts. “Anyways. Like I was saying. Lets go over the reason and procedures of the “air mask”,” He speaks in a monotone voice, and stands up while using hand motions. “One. Everyone wears a mask. There is no “but” or “if”. We have all seen the unfortunate things that have happened to our peers. Even though by now we should all know, I’m gonna say why we wear these.” He takes a breath while I glance at Elijah, who’s now on his phone. He catches me looking at him and raises an eyebrow.
“I know I know, I’m hot,” He winks and looks back at his phone. Instantly, a stank look came across my face.
“You wish,” He looks at me and playfully rolls his eyes while I look back at the teacher.
‘He isn’t wrong though... and you know it.’
That voice... That dumb fucking voice in my head that has been popping in ever since freshmen year started. We. Are. Just. Friends.
“As we know, the government, one. Needs more money to fund. And two. Needs less people in the population. So, they’re trying to kill us off with the money we have. If you don’t wear the mask. You get poisoned by the chemicals in the air.” Why does he speak so... slow... Right when I think that my phone buzzes.
El Bozo Elijah
Elijah: He speaks sooooooooo slowwwwwwwww -10:30
I look at him, smiling, to see him looking as well...
El Bozo Elijah
Aliyah: LITERALLY what I was thinking. -10:31
Once I set my phone down, it buzzes again.
El Bozo Elijah & Alex
Alex: Don’t act like y’all are noticeable 😑 -10:31
Elijah: Nah, wym fool? 🤨 -10:32
Aliyah: Yea, what he said -10:32
Alex: Y’all is giggling and shit at the teacher -10:32
Elijah: Nahh Whattt? But fr, you know he funny af. -10:32
Aliyah: FR Tell me why he sound like that one donkey from winnie da pooh -10:33
Elijah: NAHH SO TRUE THO -10:33
Alex: Ok Ok flirty birds ;-;.... Leave some room for me lol -10:33
Right when I’m about to respond to what Alex said, Mr. Gaige speaks. “Get off your phone you three. Or I’ll take it,” Mr. Gaige glares at us and sighs while the class glances over, as we put them in our pockets. “Back to what I was saying...” I glare at Alex while Elijah chuckles.
