Too Late

I warned you. I warned you all. Her belly was swelling and her eyes were glazed over with a hazy brown. She looked like a Moana character, though her whole body was covered in trash and oil. She was standing in the middle of Washingotn DC, looking dead at the terrified camerapeople. Look at me. Look at this. Thousands of years I lived in harmony with you people. Fed you, bathed you, moved you across worlds. I overlooked everything you did. I tried to keep you from making me do this but you leave me no choice. You were made from me. I was not made for you to use and abuse and leave to die. Because when you're gone, I will still be here. And if you don't believe me, just ignore this warning and see what happens.

My eyes snapped open. I was on the floor, shaking from how fast my heart was pounding. The smell of bacon was filling my room. I took a deep breath and got up. My legs were trembling. I went and brushed my teeth, though I was careful about turning the water off when I wasn't using it, and went downstairs. My dad looked as if he hadn't slept. Pancakes, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and eggs all lined the counters. My brain quipped about it looking like the Last Breakfast but I was too shaken from the nightmare to joke right now. I made my plate and sat down. One by one, the rest of the family came down. We were silent, even when passing salt or pouring orange juice.

"I had the strangest dream," my mother said after a few minutes of silence. "There was this... woman, covered in trash... She was on TV talking to us."

I dropped my fork noisily and my brother choked on orange juice.

"You too?" we said in unison, then looked around in disbelief.