A short story by Jenny England ...

Sara wasn’t sure what woke her; maybe the eerie flash of light outside her window or the fierce rapping on her front door.

It was earlier than she normally rose, but she jumped up, grabbed her dressing gown and went to find out what was going on.

Through the peephole in her front door she spied a man dressed in a strange black uniform.

She didn’t recognise him, so cautiously opened the door leaving the security chain attached.

“Sara Smith,” he asked.

“Yes,” I slowly replied.

“I need to speak with you urgently! The future of mankind depends on it.”

Sara was at first bemused but having a somewhat curious and audacious nature, she warily let him in.

“It’s an authorised visit,” he began, flashing an identification badge with a photo and an official signature.

“I’m from the future. 2288 to be exact. I’m here to avert a major catastrophe that is destined to wipe out human civilisation. It all depends on you. My team has traced a chain of events that once began will be irreversible.”

“Me?” Sara queried. She was baffled, somewhat confused, a little overawed but curious about the notion.

He nodded and began to explain. “Yes. It begins after you are involved in a bicycle accident wearing a yellow dress.”

“I don’t ride a bicycle.”

“But do you have a yellow dress?”

“Yes, it’s my favourite,” she sighed,

“Then you must never wear it again. If you don’t comply with this official directive I am authorised to take drastic action,” he continued, tapping a bulging gun strapped to his hip.

“I am a very patient man but this is not something that calls for inaction.

Sara, still startled and a little sceptical, simply nodded and showed him hastily out the door.

She hurried back to her bedroom, retrieved the yellow dress from her closet and placed it on her bed. How could she never wear it again? Her favourite yellow dress! The future of mankind?

Suddenly her phone rang. Sara knew straight away it was Alice, her bestie.

“Hi, have I got something weird to tell you. Yes, we are still meeting for coffee. At that new café, Bean Roasted next to the bicycle shop. No worries. See you there at 9.”

She immediately hung up looking forward to sharing the strange events of the morning.

She stood for a few minutes to ponder her predicament. He had not actually explained the timing of this disastrous event and since she rarely had anything to do with bicycles; she decided to wear it just one more time and simply take precautions around bicycles.

She jumped into the shower sure she could get away with one more day wearing her beloved yellow dress.

She slipped out, dried herself then began pulling the dress over her head.

But before she had time to button it up she saw that eerie flash of light out the bedroom window again.

Within seconds she then heard the thud of her front door crashing to the ground. “Shit!”