Question
You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on the following topic:
‘The radio crackled as the distant voice spluttered and died. Now they felt completely alone, but surely there must be others like them out there?’ Write a narrative using this quotation as the beginning or end of your story.
Model Essay
The radio crackled as the distant voice spluttered and died. Now they felt completely alone, but surely there must be others like them out there?
Sarah and Jake sat in the dimly lit cabin, the remnants of the last transmission lingering in their minds. For weeks, they had clung to the hope that the radio would bring news of other survivors, people who had endured the same catastrophe that had turned the world into a desolate wasteland. But now, with the silence that followed the final crackle, hope seemed to fade like the dying embers in the hearth.
The world had changed overnight. A catastrophic event, the details of which were still unclear, had severed all forms of communication and left cities in ruins. Sarah and Jake had been on a hiking trip in the mountains, far from civilization when it happened. The isolation that once felt like a retreat now felt like a prison.
“Do you think there are others out there?” Jake asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Sarah nodded, her determination unwavering. “There have to be. We can’t be the only ones left. We just have to find them.”
With the radio silent, they had to rely on other means to search for survivors. They decided to venture out further than they had before, into the heart of the valley where they had seen a small town. It was a risky journey, but it was their only hope.
Packing their few remaining supplies, they set out at dawn. The path was treacherous, overgrown with vegetation and littered with debris from the catastrophe. Every step was a reminder of the world that had been lost. Yet, amidst the destruction, there were signs of resilience—flowers blooming through cracks in the pavement, birds singing in the trees.
ADVERTISEMENT
As they approached the outskirts of the town, a strange feeling of anticipation mixed with dread settled over them. The town was eerily silent, abandoned cars and empty buildings casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. They searched for signs of life, calling out occasionally, their voices echoing back with no response.
Just as despair began to set in, they heard a faint sound—a rhythmic tapping. Following the noise, they arrived at a small house with boarded-up windows. Inside, they found a family—two parents and a young child, huddled together. The tapping was their makeshift Morse code, a desperate attempt to communicate with anyone who might be out there.
Relief flooded through Sarah and Jake as they realized they were not alone. The family explained that they, too, had been trying to reach out through the radio, but had given up hope until they heard Sarah and Jake’s voices in the distance. The reunion, though somber, was a beacon of hope in the desolation.
Over the following days, more survivors emerged from hiding, drawn by the newfound sense of community and the promise of rebuilding. They shared stories, resources, and most importantly, hope. The radio might have fallen silent, but the human spirit had not.
As the sun set on the small group of survivors, they gathered around a makeshift fire, sharing a meal and their dreams for the future. The crackling of the fire replaced the static of the radio, and the voices of their newfound community filled the night with a sense of belonging.
The radio’s final message had not been one of despair but a call to action. Now, they knew that they were not alone, and together, they could face whatever the future held.
Word Count: 586