Nobody knows if the power will be restored. It went off with a small click and that was it. No countdown, no explosion, no event.
We’d all been warned often enough that oil and gas were running out, that we weren’t investing enough in renewable energy. Now only essential services and the rich have power.
There was no hysteria when the lights went out. It’s even had some benefits: communities pulled together to help the vulnerable; disparate neighbours found a common bond in adversity.
I watch the light fizzle in my table lamp as the last of my oil runs out. As the darkness descends inside, I look to the light out the window. I think I shall like the simpler way of life that lies ahead.

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
I predict a short term population boom. A great piece of writing in such poor light. 🙂
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Haha a second baby boomers generation 🙂 Thanks Michael
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It’s good to see a positive take on the crises of the future. Thanks for that, Iain
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Dear Iain,
The picture was actually taken during a power outage. Evocative piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha, I must have subconsciously got that. Thanks Rochelle.
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I was without power fro three days once. I hope that NEVER happens again!
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Hopefully it won’t come to this! 🙂
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We had an ice storm in 2009 and were out for 11 days. Boy, was I thrilled when it came back on.
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Oh my..I can’t even! Three days was horrible enough!
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I bet. I am in no way advocating no electricity as a lifestyle choice!
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Only three days? Should have been over here during the great ice storm of 1998… Me, 7 months pregnant, with Mick and our dog, moved in with my sister, her, 5 months pregnant, with her husband and her dog… 2 weeks!
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That sounds like a fun time for all!! 🙂
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We did make the best of it! We ate like kings (my no electricity house had 1/4 cow and 1/2 pig in our freezer we could not let them go to waste!)
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Wow! lol
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This is when you discover the only food you have is microwave Hot Pockets. And that it’s almost November.
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And you can’t buy anything because that’s all done electronically now too…
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We are so dependent on our technology, it’s good to be reminded of the essentials from time to time. Simpler life also means more dangerous life. Good story.
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Interesting idea – more dangerous life also means more story material 🙂
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It would be nice to see communities pull together somehow!
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It would, I would hope it wouldn’t take something like this though. Thanks for reading.
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You paint a very dark picture indeed. Great writing -if I may so.
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You may indeed. Many thanks 🙂
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Interesting take on the apocalypse. Although I’m a fan of darkness and silence, I suspect that the “simpler” life without power won’t be quite as simple, or as pleasant, as the narrator is hoping for.
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Perhaps he has the skills needed to survive in this sort of world, would need to think more about their back story. Thanks for commenting.
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My first thought was “power outage.” We have a stockpile of candles – both wax and battery operated – and kerosene lamps for such occasions. We lose power at least once a year. And thank goodness for the wood stove. I like how you turned the bleakness of losing gas and oil supplies into a positive event.
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There definitely could be something good about people not being stuck to TV’s and computers and phones and cars, but a lot of negatives too. Thanks for reading 🙂
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I love this.
Power outage is a steady occurrence in Nigeria.
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You may be better equipped to deal with it than a lot of people in the US and Europe who rely so much on having electricity for everything. Thanks for reading and kind comment 🙂
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Very true!
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I do hope it would play like that, we need more positive thinking. Great story.
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Thanks, I do too, I suspect it would be different…
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Indeed much simpler. Electricity changed everything so much. It’s like going back to the beginning of the 20th century, even a bit before.
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Thanks Mandi, it has been a blessing for us mainly but there are some downsides to it too.
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Nice tone. Nice descriptive and predictive piece for what’s to possibly come.
Randy
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Thanks Randy.
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Back to basics, and a warning for the future. Nice!
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Many thanks 🙂
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Say it ain’t so. No power, no internet, no Friday Fictioneers. Okay now that I got that off my chest, I liked your positive spin and the thought of people pulling together to help each other.
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Thanks, I did think of incorporating no Friday Fictioneers into the story, but not enough words 🙂
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It is a nice thought, going back to simpler times… I’m just not ready to give up a flushing toilet! 😉
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😉 very true.
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It’s not a choice and yet somehow it feels as though this new way forward is the only way and is a choice. Well told
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Thanks Laurie
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We had power cuts due to the miners’ strikes. They were fun as a child and perhaps if the power was switched off for an hour a day to get people doing other things, it could be fun again.
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That’s not a bad idea, not sure how practical, but I would like an hour a day with no TV’s or phones or computers.
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A dark warning we should all heed.
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Thanks Liz.
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humans are adaptable. when the lights go out, i’m sure they can come up with creative ways to keep them busy. 🙂
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I do enjoy the simpler part of life – at least in small doses… a bed to sleep in, go to bed at dusk and all that.
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It has its charm definitely.
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I do like your spin on all this. My favorite line: only essential services and the rich have power. That says a lot in a few words.
My fondest memory as a child was the blackout of ’77 in NYC we made a block party of it , sitting on stoops, staying out late, turning on the hydrant, setting off fireworks. In other parts of the city there was looting – so it could go both ways. Succesive blackouts that were not as long had people screaming and wanting to sue Con Edison. We have changed a lot, perhaps a return to the simpler life would be a boon.
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A well written piece on current events. Having just gone through the experince of Hurricane Matthew a few weeks ago, I can identify. People helping each other when the elctricity goes out; others joining together for rescues and the realization that we can survive despite all.
Nicely done …
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora, it’s good to know it relates to real life. Glad you got through Matthew okay.
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Your very welcome …. 😎
Yes, we did fare well. Hopefully, we’ll be spared before the month ends. There’s a new hurricane developing called Hurricane Nicole. We know how women can be. 😳
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Well written Iain, your opening sentence reflects how such an event would occur.
Life will always adjust to the circumstances, hopefully with the calm pragmatism of the last lines. Nicely done
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Kind words, many thanks. And I hope so too.
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I often think about how dependent we are on external systems for everything – food, power, communication, transport. I don’t like to feel so vulnerable, and envy people who have achieved a degree of self-sufficiency. I love your story – it takes my worst nightmares and gives them a positive, hopeful slant.
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Thanks Margaret – I agree, we rely an awful lot on others to make sure we live comfortably by providing us with all we need. Hopefully it will never come to this scenario! 🙂
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Such a thought-provoking story. You’ve presented the best case scenario of what would happen in this situation. If electricity were really cut off indefinitely, do you think it would be possible to prevent the spread of chaos and panic? Serious question. ☺
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I think it might depend on how it happened and would be different in different areas. If we had warning and the government dealt with it sensibly then it might be okay. Not that I trust today’s politicians to do that….
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I also doubt that any of today’s politicians would deal with it sensibly…
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Power cuts were (and are still) common in many parts over here. But the situation is much better and mostly under control largely due to improved power supply and alternative sources like the battery (inverter) and generators. Power cut despite it’s attendant myriad problems does have its own upsides – better bonding for one. My four year old son was absolutely thrilled and prayed for another power cut so that we could all sleep on the terrace. Thanks for an enjoyable piece 🙂
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That’s a lovely story about your son, glad you liked the piece. I think in developed countries we tend to despair at the thought of no electricity (or cars or smartphones and so on) forgetting that a lot of the world lives everyday without these luxuries.
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Oh we despair just as much and go berserk trying to have back up of back up avenues. 😀 Nowadays, electricity is no longer a luxury but a necessity – almost everything runs on electricity and in times of global warming the heat can be killing. During my childhood i dont ever remember feeling hot and none of us had ACs or coolers (or needed one) but now it’s almost impossible to survive without at least one of these.
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Wow, Iain, that would really change civilization as we know it. No more internet, TV, radio, etc., etc. People would have to use typewriters and wood stoves again and depend on the mails. I don’t know if there are enough trees. No space race either. People would get to know their neighbors again. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thanks Suzanne, definitely some positives that might come from it.
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