A New World

Getting Down On The Farm

Jason's pov

She's asleep on the couch. She can't turn. She's been immunized right? I try to think back since the day they brought her back but I don't remember ever giving her the cure. As long as she's still breathing, she's still alive. I can't believe my carelessness. She whispers my name in her sleep.

Miranda's pov

~in the dream~

"nothing is going to stop me from getting back there." I say. Eugene just stops walking. "dude, I am not afraid to leave you behind!" I growl. "you're an idiot to think he'll still be waiting for you after 20 years." He grumbles. I run off, leaving him behind. How did I get stuck with him? My shoulder is throbbing. I reach the entrance to the farm, my safe haven. "Jason, I'm coming!" I call. He's waiting on the porch. "I knew you'd come back." He says. I smile and jump onto the porch. He hugs me. "you waited all these years for me?" I gasp. "of course! I can't stand being away from you. I knew this was where you were most happy. I'm never gonna fall so hard for someone again." He says. He dips me and kisses me.

Jason's pov

She wakes up. I sit beside her. "how ya feelin'?" I ask. "my shoulder is killing me." she says. "did you ever get immunized?" I say, fearful. "I don't remember." she whispers. "I shouldn't have brought you out here. Now you might die again!" I cry. "Jason if I die I'm glad it's here, where I was the happiest. Oh I forgot to tell you, keely and kendyl and Eric told me to tell you hi." she chokes out. My eyes go wide. She's seeing hallucinations already! The virus is moving along faster than I thought! "how did you see them?" I ask. She shrugs. "just did." she says. I'm not going to lose her, I can't. I go to the kitchen. I don't know what to do. I check my pistol. I've got two bullets left. One for her and one for me. "I want to stay here. I never want to go back." she yells. "OK hun, we don't have to go back." I reply, choking back the tears as I close the chamber. I walk back out, gun in hand. "I won't have to wait another 20 years to see you again, will I?" she whimpers, tears in her eyes. "no babe, I'll be right behind you this time." I say. She smiles. "good, I missed you." she whispers. She closes her eyes, making my heart beat faster out of fear. I can't bring myself to kill her. I throw the gun across the room. I carry her upstairs and lay her in my bed, I lay beside her holding her hand. My revolver is in the side table. I don't know if I'll be able to kill her when the time comes. "how ya doin'" I ask. She nods, not sure what that means. I pull her to me. "my mama always told me things happen for a reason so what was the reason for this!?" she cries. But of course, how could I know. The dead are meant to stay dead. I hear her say that again. Is that why she got bit again? I stare down at her. She doesn't seem to have gotten any worse. She's really pale and feverish. Please don't be infected. I kiss her lips with as much passion as I did 20 years ago in the deer stand, the day I fell in love with her, and man did I fall hard. "don't let go." she says. "I won't if you won't." I whisper, kissing her again. Her face turns serious. "am I gonna die?" she asks. I feel hot tears on my cheeks. What do I tell her? Yeah you're dying? No way I can't tell her that. I smile, "of course not. Before ya know it well be growin' cotton, corn, a little cane, and kids." I say. She smiles. I can't bear to tell her the truth. She falls back asleep.

*the next day*

She hasn't turned yet. That's good right? Maybe I did cut her arm off fast enough. She wakes up. "good morning beautiful." I say. She smiles. "I'm not going to die." she says. "that's the fighting spirit." I reply smiling. "no you didn't let me finish! I mean I'm not gonna die without you putting some shimmer in my atmosphere just one more time." she says. My eyes wide. I'm hesitant and I don't know why. I pull her into my arms. "just kiss me you fool." she says and I do. We do fool around. It's her last wish. I had to honor it.

*3 days later*

If she was going to turn, she would've turned by now so I know I did it in time. She's also able to sit up on her own. "I think you're gonna be okay." I say. She smiles. "you just know how to take care of me." she says making me laugh. She stands up. "I want to go hunting with you." how did she know I was about to go hunting? "you think you're up for it?" I ask. She laughs. "I may only have one arm but I'm still a badass with a bow." she says with that signature smirk I love so much. "OK let's go." I say. I kept my promise too. We never went back.