Willa Mansi

Life As Will Mansi

"Dad?" I walked into the patients room and stood at his bedside.

He raised up and pulled off his stethoscope, "He's fine."

"Completely?" I laughed excitedly and Dad nodded. "Do you know what this means?" I threw my hands up in the air.

He nodded, "We can all hibernate until the virus dies off on its own."

"Human hibernation," I whispered and looked down at the patient as he slept peacefully.

"My son saved the world," Dad laughed softly.

I looked up at his proud face and said sorrowfully, "What little world there is to save."

-----------------------------------------------

"They" had always said that the end of the world would always be global destruction. The world would spin slowly down to die. Polar caps would melt, the Earth would shake with massive earthquakes and tsunamis would shatter the coastlines.

It did.

But "they" never said that people would get sick.

Just as the Earth stopped shaking, hospitals started to get overrun with patients and staff were overworked. Make shift Army hospital tents held patients in the parking lots, until a bed was empty.

Then, the deaths started. People would get so sick, they would die. Some died in hospital and some died at home; refusing to leave family.

Buildings, bridges and monuments remained destroyed as the worlds population started to die off. What had been a population of seven billion, was now just at a million.

While scientists searched for a cure, we researched hibernation. My thought was that whatever evil had rocked the planet and killed the population, would eventually pass. We merely had to wait it out.

This too, will pass.

-----------------------------------------------

She angrily thunked dishes in the dishwasher. I watched her a moment, then cleared my throat to announce my arrival. She straightened, but didn't turn around. "Finally make it home?" she said softly.

"Yes," I winced and walked over to her. "I'm sorry," I said pleading, "Don't be mad at me."

She slammed her hand on the sink, "Willa, I'm tired of being number two to the hospital!"

"That's not true," I turned her towards me, "You know I love you more than my work."

"Do I?" Becka looked up at me.

"Yes!" I laughed and hugged her tight. "I love you more than work. I love you more than anything."

"It's one o'clock in the morning," she slapped my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I kissed her cheek. I took her head in my hands and smiled at her. I put my lips to hers and she sighed heavily. I turned her hips to the sink and leaned into her. I opened her mouth and gave her my tongue. She moaned, sucking hungrily. I broke the kiss and hugged her close. "Becka," I sighed near her ear and kissed her neck.

"I know you want me," she whispered and held my hips to hers, "But when you go to work, you forget all about me," she pouted.

"I don't forget you! I could never forget you," I hugged her close.

"Promise?" she sniffed.

"I could never forget the one true love of my life," I smiled at her.

She rubbed my hips against her, "Do you have to get back?"

"No," I smiled down at her and held her cheek in my hand.

She opened my pants and touched me, "Done saving the world for the night?" she giggled when I moaned. I nodded my head and kissed her hard.

-----------------------------------------------

"Becka!" I screamed and sat straight up in bed.

"It's alright, Son," Dad sat next to me in bed.

I looked around the familiar room and panted, "Where is she?"

"She's alright," he laughed, patting my arm, "More importantly, are YOU alright?"

I looked down at my naked chest and nodded, "I think so." I looked at him, "Dad, I had the strangest nightmare. It was terrible!"

"I know," he nodded.

"It was the end of the world and everybody was sick," I moved to get up and he stood. I went to my closet and took out a pair of jeans. I put them on and shook my head, "I, somehow, created a vaccine that would induce hibernation in humans!"

"Son," Dad held his hand out to me, "that wasn't a dream."

"No?" I winced and put my hand to my forehead, "It's all confused in my head."

"It'll pass Will," he said softly and took my elbow, "Now you need to rest."

"I can't," I paced away from him, "I have to remember more."

"You already have remembered plenty," he laughed and I looked at him. "After you collapsed at the restaurant, I brought you up here."

"How long have I been sleeping?" I rubbed my head.

"You've been unconscious for a week," he stood close to me, "How do you feel now?"

I looked at him and shrugged, "Fine."

"Get dressed," he laughed and slapped my shoulder, "I'll buy you lunch."