The Key to the Future

By: Michael Banas

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Dr. John Sullivan is the medical director of the Philadelphia General Hospital’s Alzheimer’s unit. He’s also a member of the West Philadelphia Historical Society, spearheading an effort to document as much information as possible regarding the hospital’s Franklin Wing, an abandoned section of the medical complex set to be razed. During his research, Dr. Sullivan acquaints himself with Dr. Zachary Schmidt, an eccentric and at times controversial physician who worked in the Franklin Wing until his mysterious disappearance on July 4th, 1976. There, in Dr. Schmidt’s former office, Sullivan discovers a time tunnel capable of transporting an individual into the future. The time portal offers Dr. Sullivan the unique opportunity to not only aid in his fight against Alzheimer’s disease, but also save the life of a terminally ill patient. Unfortunately, his efforts are hindered by the Pagano Destruction Company, a local firm of dysfunctional characters in charge of the Franklin Wing demolition, firmly set on a lucrative project deadline. As the demolition date approaches, Dr. Sullivan suddenly finds himself trapped in the future, forced to make life and death decisions in an attempt to return home safely. The Key to the Future offers the reader a glance into the year 2065, both from a medical and technology standpoint. The storyline touches upon the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and the plausibility of forward time travel. The narrative challenges the reader to re-evaluate their concept of both history and time.