7- Critical Times Shouldn't Be Ignored

Autumn got out of bed feeling restless once again and looked out the window from the second floor of her bedroom. She hadn’t felt at ease since that wild storm swept through Madhfel. What terrified her most was how the disastrous storm struck without warning—no alerts, no urgent messages from the meteorologists, nothing to prepare the town for what was coming. It was as if the storm had simply fallen out of the sky, unpredictable and merciless. This sense of sudden vulnerability gnawed at her, making the world feel more dangerous than ever.

In its aftermath, she carried a deep ache—a broken heart from personal loss and the ruin left behind. The pain was sharpest in quiet moments, when memories pressed in on how vulnerable, afraid, and helpless she felt. Not to mention the echoes of cries due to the devastation it left behind for so many. Even as she tried to move forward, the weight of her recent heartbreak, mixed with uncertainty and fear, weighed on her existence in a small town like Madhfel.

The economy is falling apart rapidly, from as faraway as the capital city of Terra to small Madhfel and everywhere in between. And the leaders seem unsure how to fix it. They tell everyone to stay calm while pretending everything is under control. They promise to us citizens that they're working hard on the economy and other major issues. Yet experts, including scientists and economists, daily get on the news and report that things aren't improving as officials claim. The civilization of humankind is in serious decline. In the past, problems usually affected one country or city, but with the advancements in technology, everyone is connected, so everyone feels the impact.

 One of Terra's renowned scientists, who had been reported missing, had said earlier, before he disappeared. "There are signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Leaders are anguished and do not know the way out. So, all inhabitants will suffer from their mismanagement and lack of concern for it's citizens and home planet earth, because of their greed." 

Autumn never forgot his words. Upon hearing the news, she began to feel faint out of fear, too. So she tried to shift her focus from the television to her housework and duties. But failed as the news caster went on to report. 

"With the world's communications so interwoven that when civilization declines, the whole planet will feel it. On one continent, across lands, islands, and major cities, political officials tremble at the uncertainty ahead. Crime is rampant, food shortages are evident, Unknown diseases are rising, as hospitals are filled to the max, wars continue between nations, and these hardships are spreading even to rural areas. Even those with power, prestige, and wealth are shaken and are secretly planning their escape. It's not a question of whether trouble will reach you, but when. Stay tuned for more special reports and news."

"Autumn, turn that television off!" Her auntie called out. 

But Autumn was deep in thought; she was sure Calvin's family was among the wealthy who were planning to escape.

"Girl, did you hear me? And take those sheets off all the beds and replace them with these clean ones. I'm expecting more patients first thing in the morning." Aunt Rose filled her arms with bed linen.

Autumn wrinkled her nose and stood slowly, eyes still glued to the television. The news explained the hardships she’d never imagined facing in a quaint town like Madhfel. Autumn, like everyone else, hoped that things would recover soon and return to normal. But life had changed so rapidly that even the news anchors began to show there was no real hope for that.

***

Weeks and days passed, and Autumn felt more hopeless as time went on. Her plans for the future seemed to slip away. Leaving her Aunt Rose at a time like this would feel like betrayal, especially with so much trouble in Madhfel. Autumn had hoped to save money and start the life she wanted. She was so young, never once thinking she wouldn't have a chance to fulfill her dreams. It just seemed so far-fetched that the world would collapse.

One gloomy evening, as rain tapped against the window, Autumn sat at the kitchen table, nervously twisting a cloth napkin in her lap. Aunt Rose moved about the kitchen, her face drawn tight, as she tallied up bills and receipts. Despite how bad things got, one thing that stayed on track no matter what happened, like clockwork, the bills faithfully rolled in every month demanding payment. 

"Aunt Rose,” Autumn began quietly, “do you want me to look for work in the village? I know things are tight, and I want to help.”

Aunt Rose paused, sighing heavily. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate you wanting to help, Autumn. But the village is dangerous these days, and I'll worry about you out there. Still, we could use the extra money. Maybe it’s time you try to find a job somewhere, even if it's in the village.”

Autumn nodded, shoulders tense. “I just want to do my part. I can ask at the stores or the bakery if they need help.”

Rose’s voice softened. “You’ve been through enough, child, but I can’t shield you from everything. If you find something, that’ll take a load off my mind. Just be careful, out there.”

"I will, Aunt Rose. I promise.”

For the first time since the storm, Autumn felt a flicker of hope—maybe she could help them both weather whatever was coming next. She continued reading the book the nice lady had given her. It wasn't all doom and gloom; it talked about a beautiful future soon to come. She placed the book down on her lap.

"Is this truly the last days? Will I die without the hope of ever finding and experiencing life and love? Will my wish to one day be a wife and mother ever come to fruition? No one wants to think about stuff like that."

She shook her head to clear her mind as tears streamed down Autumn’s face, and once she started crying, she couldn't stop. She wondered if she had the strength to survive hard times alone. Maybe she should pack her bags and find somewhere safer, and return later for Aunt Rose. Yet, every time she watched the news, nowhere seemed safe from disasters and mayhem. Things worsened so quickly that it appeared that trouble would soon follow her wherever she went.

 Later that day, Mrs. Baldry, who is known to be the busybody of the town, entered the house to buy herbs for her aching knees and back.

"Autumn, are you still sad because of that rich boy leaving you?"  

Autumn quickly changed the subject, dodging her question. "Oh, Mrs. Baldry, it's kind of hard to smile, with so much trouble going on in Madhfel. Have you ever seen conditions this bad before anywhere?"

 "Well, I haven't personally, but I remember my great-grandfather saying a long time ago, that if you make a promise and you don't keep it. You can only expect bad things to happen. And over the years, those capital leaders have made many promises they haven't kept. They have turned their back on the maker of heaven and earth! But you don't have to worry, my dear;  ever since your parents died in that car crash. The one in the heavens above is watching out for you, and he will take care of you, my child, so don't worry. He got plans for you because, unlike all the other young people, you stayed with your Aunt, no matter how hard she's been on you, you remained by her side and helped."

Mrs. Baldry smiled approvingly as she took her package from Autumn, pinching her on the cheek. before she walked out the door.

"Who was that?" Her Aunt asked.

"Oh, it was just Mrs Baldry picking up her essential oils for her knees and back." 

"That woman knows she can talk up a storm, glad I missed her. Autumn, I heard the shopping center will be closing earlier from now on, so before it gets too late. Here is the shopping list. We are almost out of everything in this house. If things don't improve around here, and you don't find a job, we might starve. Oh, take your bike; gas is high, and I only have enough gas in the car for emergencies." 

Autumn let out a heavy sigh of frustration. She felt uneasy about the trip to the store on her bike. The shopping list covered almost everything—coal, milk, dry goods, produce, and medical supplies for at least a month. As Autumn prepared for the trip to the store, Aunt Rose went on complaining about Autumn, as if she didn't know how difficult things were, but what she couldn't understand was why Aunt Rose was taking her stress out on her. Has she really been a burden to her all this time?