Back to the Future

Here's the latest Writer's craft piece. There was one before this but I refuse to share it cause it's horrible. It was a collaborative piece and it turned out to be a very juvenile like story. Anyways... This piece is a look at using a flash back. The assignment is called Something Happened! The outline is to have something happen but not tell your reader what it is. There are three sections to your story; the first is the reality, the second is a flash back and the third brings you back to reality. Both reality portions are to be written in past tense and the flashback in present. This is what I came up with but so far everyone who has read it didn't understand. Guess it's not that great but I like and that's all that really matters.

A New Beginning

     It had looked like it had just snowed but really there were two inches of ash on the ground. It was cold. We had a fire burning in the corner to keep us warm but it wasn’t doing the greatest job. The town was in ruins for the most part, as was the rest of the world. Few plants were surviving and supplies were limited.

     As everyone poured into the old building the soft sound of crying grew. It was accompanied by a surprising sound of relief as people reconciled. They found friends that they thought they’d never see again. I myself was alone. I had moved away from my parents long ago and my boyfriend was gone.

*          *            *

     “Jazzy, I have a question for you” he says nervously.  I love the way he smiles like that. He looks up to the sky. It was sunny and clear today. A great day for a picnic, which is exactly what, we are doing. Today is our third year anniversary. He looked back into my eyes, “Jazzy, will you marry me?”

            My eyes well up with tears and I can’t help but shed a few. “Of cou-“ The sky suddenly turned dark; pitch black. The wind picked up.

*          *            *

            Why am I still here? Why didn’t Azrael take me too? Why did he leave any of us here? What makes us so important? Why did he get taken?

     As people came in I offered them the little food and water I could. Everyone was grateful to take the edge off of the intruding feeling of starvation. All that was left to do now was decide how to preserve the human race.