The East Bay Shipping Emporium | 5 Minute Freewrite: Day 1895 | Prompt: water front

The day began as an adventure. My employer, The East Bay Shipping Emporium, was about to embark on its most important mission yet: to connect with the eastern trade route in the year 1907 to deliver exotic goods from overseas. I made sure nothing would prevent me from reaching its shores.

Having never visited the west coast, I stood on the water front admiring the sites, together with the company's handsome ship about to make its maiden voyage. I smiled thinking about the eastern port and my mission. I had no idea what to expect.

A loud whistle blew, stirring me to the present. I hurried to the port office to check on some bills of lading. Stepping into the doorway, I bumped so hard into another customer that she fell from the waiting line.

I wanted to reach out and assist her, but my hands were full. I glanced at my transit papers. My orders were explicit. I couldn't miss the deadline.

Another gentleman assisted in her recovery while I issued my apologies. I remember noticing her neck was covered with several small, discolored lumps. I shrugged it off. Nothing was more important than my voyage.

I searched the boarding schedule. The word "CANCELLED" was written in large letters next to my company's vessel.

Frowning, I attempted to push aside other customers to reach the front desk.

There, I had no luck in discovering the reason for cancelling the vessel's scheduled trip.

A loud commotion on the dock caused a wild reaction from the shipping office customers. All rushed to the nearest exit.

Confused, I turned to investigate.

From the window, I noticed uniformed officers escorting individuals from the ships. Apparently, they weren't allowing anyone to board.

Someone shouted, "run if you want to live!"

Shocked, I turned to ask the office manager. Before I could utter a word, he shoved me out the door and followed, then locked it and disappeared down the wharf.

A bell tower rang five times. People scurried about, soon disappearing behind the dock.

Men in white coats with masks walked orderly in a line as though participating in an unannounced parade. However, the white masks, shaped like elongated bird beaks, weren't entertaining.

My heart beat faster as I noticed hand-written signs with a large letter "X" marked across the front.

On the opposite side, the words: Plague - Black Death stood out prominently.

Horrified, my thoughts spun wildly as I tried to remember reading about a strange, ravishing illness from abroad, causing excruciating death that was rapidly spreading to other countries.

There was no mistaking. The plague was here. In the very spot I was assigned to be in San Francisco.

Backing away and shaking my head violently, I dropped my packages, turned and ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction.

As I rounded the next corner headed away from the wharf, the aroma of rosemary and odor of hot tar filled my nostrils.

I panicked.

My thoughts whirled as I remembered the signs, the woman in the office, and reading about the herb and tar for sanitation purposes.

I kept running as fast as I could. I didn't want to die. In that moment, I realized my life was more important than opening up trade avenues for The East Bay Shipping Emporium.

The day ended as a nightmare.