Future Narrative

July 4, 2043



We’re moving up to the Duluth today… I guess it used to be in the state of Minnesota. It is supposed to be the safest place to live now that the coastal cities are going underwater. I will miss New Orleans though. The last few months the water has been rising pretty quickly as the storms continue. At least we’re away from the fires in Los Angeles and I am excited to be able to learn how to drive a car rather than a boat. My best friend, Layla, and her family are staying in New Orleans. They don’t have the money to get a new place up here and say they can withstand the storms. I wanted to take her with us so bad, but Mom said we can’t afford to take care of another person. I guess I am just lucky to go to a place where I don’t have to worry as much about food and water resources.

Mom tells me that today used to be the biggest holiday when the U.S. was still a thing. Ever since the two-party system and state governments were overrun by the cities, no one has celebrated. We can’t really celebrate anything more than just thinking about it.

If I were to take a time machine back to when mom was young, let’s say, 2019, I would go to a party for whatever this day was and just not worry about where my next meal will come from or if I’ll be able to get clean water to stay healthy. Times must have been better…