Suburban Island VI

Where is My Mind? (Aftermath)

Where is My Mind? (Aftermath)

The land has been scorched. The trees were gone, but so were streets, houses, fences, cars, and playground sets in yards. Even Steve's man-made backyard beach is gone. There's nothing left in fact. It was just all flattened ground. The military flew over the mainland with helicopters. Canada and Mexico waited with bated breath. The US government waited for six days for everything to clear. Forty-eight of the fifty states were dead.

So what happens now?

They have to carry on. There are only about a handful of countries left. South America and Australia were the only two continents that were still intact. It won't be long before the virus takes hold of them too. For now, the Americans are in quarantine. They will probably stay there for years. It's a small price to pay for survival. Maybe one day they will be with the rest of the human race. For now, they have to stay separated.

And what about the mainland? It will remain untouched until the end of time. Nobody wants to go there. Why would they? There is nothing there. The trees and the bombs made sure of that. The government is still in the sky. They rule over just two states now. They are just going to stay in the air. Where else are they going to go? Alaska and Hawaii were still here. The trees could never reach them. Canada might be facing the same problem with the trees. Still, they are working to make sure that doesn't happen. Speaking of Canada, Mickey and Gabrielle have settled in with Chris rather well.

"I think you'll like it here," Chris said. He converted one of the spare rooms into a bedroom for Mickey. He got to look out on the city.

"Wow!" he said. The apartment was small but it would work for now. Gabrielle could set up her hair salon in the neighborhood. Chris still drove trucks for a living. The family was getting settled in. Chris might even marry Gabrielle. They will just have to see.

Everyone else is doing well. It felt weird to have to go to an actual school after so long. Some would have to go to work and pay bills. It just felt nice to talk to other people.

Josie got to enjoy the real beach. Her mother had a job again. She didn't have to pretend to talk to someone on her phone. Speaking of phones, the refugees are having to get used to using phones again. But they do not call each other. Most of them don't anyway. Only a small number do. They don't know why. It was all just trauma bonding in a sense.

Patience and her family are doing well. Her aunt was getting the help that she needed. They were all staying in Patience's father's house. His wife had to go along with it. His family didn't have anywhere else to go.

"They are my family," he said. His wife couldn't complain. That didn't get Patience down. She's just happy that Patrice is getting the help that she needs. Her aunt is calmer than when they were on Golden Leaf. It wouldn't take long for her and Viola to get settled here in Alaska. Now that everything was set, Patience figured that it was time to work on herself. Maybe she could try and find Mike again. She didn't know but she was going to try.

What about the government?

They are still around. There isn't much to do. They just have to keep on and keep it together. What of Annie, Theresa, and Kathy? They are still fine. They are making it work. Some of them are doing better than others.

-Theresa and Dylan-

She gave him a new home. Dylan wasn't going to be alone anymore.

"Welcome home," she said. He didn't know how to take it at first.

"What happens now?" he asked. Theresa pulled him into her arms.

"We try to live through this," she said.