THIS IS NOT THE END

"In light of this imminent danger, I must advise all citizens in Central Europe and coastal areas worldwide to evacuate to designated safe locations," he continued. "Our teams in every continent have begun working tirelessly to create safe zones for all people, and we implore you to follow evacuation procedures for your safety and that of your loved ones."

Amidst this communication, the President's voice remained steadfast. "The World Government is taking swift action to protect humanity. We will attempt to intercept the asteroid while it enters Earth's upper atmosphere with nuclear weapons, in a last-ditch effort to blow it up in small bits that will hopefully burn up in the atmosphere during entry. We acknowledge that this move is fraught with many dangers, yet it's the safest bet we have at the moment if we want to protect our home planet and its civilization."

The weight of the moment settled on every soul as they grappled with the reality of the situation. But President Barucuda's message was not just about fear; it was about resilience and unity.

"We know these are trying times, but now, more than ever, we must come together as a global community. Show kindness to one another, lend a helping hand to those in need, and stock up on necessary household items while we face this adversity," he urged, his voice unwavering. "Let us not surrender to despair but rally behind the spirit of humanity that unites us all. THIS IS NOT THE END," he shouted in encouragement. "May God protect us all." He concluded his speech before the interrupted TV programs resumed.

But the attention of the world had been grabbed, and the conversations shifted to evacuation and stocking up for the inevitable which was roughly four days away. People started calling loved ones, and asking for leaves from work to spend these last few days with family or moving to the safe zones.

"Monica, are you going to see your family? Bosco Masaba asked her. Such times aroused the feeling of wanting to be with loved ones.

He was wishing, the university and hospital could let them go.

"Bosco, I wish I could go home and be with my mother and siblings. But I fear the hospital will not let us go. If there was ever a time when they needed us most, it is now." She told him basing the situation she expected to prevail in the coming days.

"For me, if the university releases me. I will get on the first train home. For God's sake, I am still a student, not a licensed doctor posted to a hospital." Bosco explained his feelings. He felt it was not fair to hold them back when they were not fully licensed medical practitioners.

Monica looked at him and sympathized with their lot. "Do you remember the global corona pandemic of 2020?"

"Yes, I do," he responded.

In his mind, he expected anyone alive with some shred of intelligence not to forget that perilous time when countries were locked down, people imprisoned in their homes while grimly watching on TV or the internet the raising rate of infections all the while claiming thousands of lives on a daily basis. No country was spared, not even the most developed countries with the best health care systems. They were all overwhelmed in terms of manpower and resources, and doctors had to choose those to treat and those to turn away because they stood no chance of surviving.

"That's good if you remember. By then, my mother was in her final year of nursing school. Schools in the state of Uganda were closed when the first positive corona patient was discovered on a flight from the United Arab Emirates. While the other students were allowed to return home, all nursing and medical students from the second year upwards were retained by their respective hospitals to help out. I am assuming the same thing will happen this time around." She explained her point of view.

There was no way he could refute her well-explained statement. "I get it, that is the sad reality of being an essential worker."

She laughed briefly when he mentioned 'essential worker.' "By then, it was considered a blessing to be categorized as an essential worker. While others were dying of depression in their homes. Essential workers got to move out daily going to work in cars with special stickers from the Ministry of Health, they were still receiving their salaries and allowances in a time when many were jobless and barely surviving on handouts."

This talk of lockdown flooded Bosco's mind with all the memories and feelings from then.

"I remember during that period, watching on TV; some nurses were arrested for using a hospital ambulance to ferry booze between their homes. Hard liquor depots and bars were closed but these resourceful essential workers saw another way of exploiting their station." Monica could not contain her laughter when she heard him talking about this.

Bosco stared at the ceiling as if reading some ominous sign, "I hope what happened then does not happen again. If it's any consolation to us, we are not in central Europe."

If Africa which was thousands of miles from the estimated point of crash down was on edge, he could not imagine the panic, anxiety, and depression gripping the residents of central Europe. Knowing that their lives and everything their ancestors have diligently built for generations were on the brink of destruction. Hoping for the best and yet always fearful of the worst that was yet to come.

"It is not only central Europe; the president mentioned all coastal areas. Even here in the East African Federation, we have two major coastlines. I wonder how they will fare?" Monica corrected him.

The East African Federation had its western state of the Democratic Republic of Congo bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the three states of Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania bordering the Indian Ocean in the East.

All these were exposed and vulnerable areas. The asteriod when it crashed down whether, on land or sea, its impact was expected to generate massive worldwide tsunamis of several hundred meters high. These tsunamis were enough to flatten most coastal areas and claim millions or billions of lives if not evacuated on time.

Bosco lifted his right hand and checked on the wristwatch time, it was a mechanical Seiko Seiko Spacewalk SPS005. A rare vintage watch that he received as a gift from his girlfriend. He treasured it more than any wristwatch he ever had.

He saw that it was a few hours to midnight. He began panicking because he had not finished everything on today's agenda.

"Monica, let me leave you. It's getting late." He told her as he stood up from his seat.

"A real gentleman could not leave me behind, he could graciously escort me." She teased him.

"Too bad for you, I am not a gentleman. Good night, Monica." He told her with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Goodnight rough man.!" She told him as she saw him walking away.

If only he knew how much she was looking forward to having him escort her back to her apartment. But he was either too dense or did not care for her to entertain such thoughts. Left alone, she picked up her smartphone and ordered a Swift Taxi via the app to pick her up and deliver her home.