The Risks

EPILOGUE: AUGUST 12TH, 2018

CLOSING MY EYES, I took it all in.

I could hear the soft, summer breeze blowing through the leaves, feel it as it pushed and pulled loose strands of my hair across my face. There was the sound a basketball against pavement and shoes dancing around it. I could hear a lawnmower in the distance, could almost smell the fresh cut grass.

There were voices everywhere; an older couple going for a stroll, two women's gossip from the gazebo nearby, children laughing.

And if I opened my eyes, I would see no walls from here. I could almost pretend there were no walls at all. Not that they were even really necessary anymore. We hadn't seen a Feral in nearly two years, since before the winter before last. The only reason to keep them up were to protect ourselves from any lingering threats –people who were still needlessly fighting to survive. But more often than not, the groups that came across our sanctuary were kind people simply in seek of refuge.

The community had expanded so much these past years. Charlotte's goals had been reached. The walls circled the entire town. All the houses had electricity and running water and waste management. Our numbers were up to five hundred and thirty five now.

I opened my eyes, looking down at the infant in my arms.

Five hundred and thirty six.

Grace stirred in my arms, her hands clenching and her mouth opening and closing. She let out one tiny cry, interrupting herself with a massive yawn before her eyes blinking open hazily.

"Hi there, sweetheart," I cooed. "Did you have a nice nap? Are you hungry now?"

She turned her head closer to my chest, her little mouth working at nothing but air. She grunted unhappily.

"Hold on just a bit. Your mommy's..." I glanced back to where Hannah and Chris were picnicking to see Chris cleaning up and Hannah halfway to me. "Your mommy's on her way over."

"Hey," I said to Hannah as she sat down beside me on the bench. "I think she's hungry."

"It's probably time," she said as I passed the baby to her. "You ready to go home and eat, Gracie girl?" She looked back up to me. "Thanks for watching her. It was nice for Chris and I to have some time to ourselves for once."

"Any time," I offered. "I miss mine being this little."

Hannah smiled and Chris leaned over the back of the bench. "So what do you think? Does she look more like me or Hannah?"

I peered at the baby's tiny face. "Hannah. Thankfully."

Chris laughed. "Good one."

"Dinner at our house tonight?" I asked them, although it was more of a reminder.

"We'll be there," Hannah assured and Chris offered her his free hand.

They waved their goodbyes and then they headed home, his arm around her waist, his face turning to shine upon their daughter.

I grinned after them before turning to where I last saw Parker.

He was still there, sitting in the grass in the shade of an oak a little ways off. The kids were running circles around him, whooping and hollering and giggling as they chased each other. Then Parker called to them and they ran over to him, watching as he plucked a dandelion from the earth nearby and held it delicately under Rosie's chin. My heart clenched suddenly, a bittersweet sting. The kids laughed and clapped after he'd explained their love of peanut butter and they took off, collecting handfuls of dandelions for themselves.

Parker leaned back, hands in the grass behind him and an absently fond grin on his face as he watched the kids pick the weeds. Then he turned his head and his eyes met mine, and we both smiled.