Future Death.

In fact I felt the pain about once every month at first. The same pain. The same feelings of sudden panic. Each attack only lasted a few minutes but there was an aftermath that lasted much longer. I would be lying on the floor, numb, but soaked in what I took to be a sweat of terror and fear. Then I would fall into a deep sleep. These experiences continued for at least two years.

One evening I was watching TV. It wasn't any favourite kind of programme or anything special. It was a holiday programme and, as I said, it wasn't that special or significant. Suddenly though I thought I saw myself in the feature. I was actually there in the programme, walking along this street in Berlin, being filmed, not as part of the programme. I was just there somehow.

It was incredible. I couldn't believe my eyes. It wasn't somebody who just looked like me, it was me! You can tell these things. You really can recognise yourself and not be fooled by illusions. I watched, transfixed. The camera seemed to be following me as I walked along in front of the television tour guide. We were coming up to the sector in Berlin where the wall used to be. The site was still a big attraction. Millions came to see it every year. I was walking along under a part of the wall that was still intact. It was a popular spot for tourists. I was close to the wall. I had a sudden sense that there was a huge mass of people on the other side and they were pushing against the wall... pushing for freedom I thought. But there was no need now. They could simply have walked round the wall. But they kept pushing and pushing, shouting to others to help them. I heard a crack, like a twig snapping and looked up. The top of the wall was hurtling down towards me. Too late to run. Too late to scream. Only the pain. That ancient pain as the massive weight crushed onto my head and body. Lying there in the darkness. I could see the huge mound of stone lying against the remains of the Berlin Wall and the dust and I could hear people scream and others rush towards the rubble. But I knew it was all too late. I could feel myself inside, in the darkness, fall into that deep sleep that I knew so well. It was a look into the future for me, tragic accident for everyone else that they would all have to wait years for.

When I was twenty-four I was sent to Berlin to work for the E.U. that was just two weeks ago. I am recording all this in my diary as a record of my thoughts or my dreams or of my crazy fantasies. Nobody ever knows how the mind works.

I'm just going for a walk now. I might even tempt fate and go down to see that wall.

I think it's all been a fantasy really. A part of childish fears and nightmares. Well I hope so!

Name: Subhan Ali Friday 8th December 2004

Original Writing Coursework

Ms Brown