A Breath of Fresh Air

by Dami Adeyemi

Leo had always hated air. He hated breathing it, smelling it, and tasting it. He hated seeing the smog, the dust, and the ash. He hated hearing the coughs, the wheezes, and the gasps. He hated feeling the burn and the sting of the air rushing down his throat.

But the air was vital in his world. It was filtered and purified by the government, sold by corporations, and hoarded, sometimes stolen, by the people. Air was a source of survival and struggle, of privilege and injustice, of health and sickness.

Leo was one of the lucky ones. He had a steady job at AirCorp, the largest and most powerful air company in the city. He had a comfortable apartment with a state-of-the-art air system that kept the air fresh and clean. He also had a generous air allowance that allowed him to breathe freely and without worry.

But Leo was not happy. He felt empty and restless as if something was missing from his life. He felt guilty, as if he were part of the problem that plagued his world.

He often wondered what it was like to breathe the natural air—the air that existed before the Great Collapse, the air that was free and abundant for everyone. He had read about it in books and seen it in movies, but he had never experienced it for himself. He had heard rumours that there were still places where the natural air was preserved, people lived in harmony with nature, and air was not a commodity but a gift.

He wanted to see those places. He wanted to breathe that air. He wanted to escape his world.

One day, he got his chance. He received a mysterious message on his phone, inviting him to join a secret group of rebels who called themselves the Airbornes. They claimed to have access to a hidden tunnel that led to the outside world—the world beyond the city walls, the world of natural air. They said they were looking for recruits who were willing to risk everything for a chance to breathe free.

Leo was intrigued. He was curious. He was desperate.

He decided to go. He packed a small bag with some essentials, left a note for his landlord, and headed to the address that was given in the message. He arrived at a run-down building in a shady part of town. There, he was greeted by a masked man who led him to a basement. As he entered, he saw a group of people wearing gas masks and backpacks sitting around a table with a map and a laptop.

"Welcome, Leo," the masked man said. "We've been expecting you. We are the Airbornes, and we are going to find clean, free air. Are you ready to join us?"

Leo nodded. He felt a surge of adrenaline and excitement. A spark of hope and courage. He felt a breath of fresh air.

He was ready.