Unmasked

Even in normal circumstances, concentrating during a Data Protection meeting at 9 am would have been hard enough. With the added complication of Sofia’s revelation it was virtually impossible.

She took a deep breath and tried to recall the mindfulness workshop they had been forced to take last “team-building Thursday”.

Right. Grounding. Acknowledge five things around you.

But amongst the weary faces, sloppy notes, cups of cold coffee, half-eaten croissants and black clouds forming outside… the same thought emerged with absolute certainty:  

Humanity has seven days left.

Was no one else aware? But she already knew the answer. It had always been like this. For years she had been shrugging off her visions. They didn’t exactly fit in with the succesful businesswoman persona she was going for.

But today, despite her best efforts, she could not banish the thought. It hung above her; a palpable and undeniable truth, more real than anything she could see before her.

Excuse me. –she said feigning a sudden illness.

On her way out of the meeting room she stepped on the HR officer’s foot, hard. She realised then that she’d been wanting to do that for some time.  

Sofia hurriedly collected her handbag, her coat, her boss’s wallet from his coat pocket, the company card from the drawer... The meeting was scheduled to last for another two hours.

She slid out of the office and into the world, a brand-new world. She had seven days to enjoy it.