We are the ones who live

Someplace Safe

"Mama, where are we going?"

My daughter sits in the backseat of my Honda as I drive down a dusty dirt road. I don't know where we're going. We could backtrack to the highway, but who knows how many rotters will be there? A swarm chased us out about two days ago. We've been hiding in different houses or stores but it would be nice to have a place to truly settle down. I turn back to face Estella, "Mami is gonna take you someplace safe."

I don't know if anywhere is safe anymore.

As I make my way towards the highway, I retrieve the gun I have in the glove compartment. You never know what might come at you. Suddenly, I stomp on the brakes as a rotter swarm passes right in front of me. I am too stunned to speak, too weak to move. Estella begins crying and it wakes me up from my trance. I press the gas pedal down and swerve onto a different road, but when I look behind me, I can see that the swarm has started following me.

Shit.
I stomp on the gas and drive towards the highway. I can hear Estella crying but my mind is focused on something else. Getting the fuck out of here. I peer in the rearview mirror and all I see are rotters. My breath picks up and tears start streaming down my cheeks.

I see the highway in the distance and a relief rushes through my body. I spin my head around to face Estella. "Mi hija you're going to be okay." 
She sniffles, snot dripping out of her nose.  I speed down the highway, but I come to a block in the road. A pileup of cars obscures my view and leaves no way for me to get past.

I put the car into park and sink into my seat. Shuddering breaths puff out of my body. Bile rises in my throat. I open the door and vomit onto the pavement. I need a break.
"Mama is going to take a walk, okay?"
Estella nods, so I step out of the car and stretch my arms above my head. The sun beams down on my face and floods my body with warmth. I amble down the road, taking deep breaths.

A noise in the distance catches my attention. It sounds like cars. The vehicles making these noises appear on the road: an RV, two cars, and a motorcycle. I pull my gun out of my waistband and hold it tightly in my hands. I back away slowly then I run back to my car.

"Estella, get down!" I aggressively whisper. At first, she looks confused but then she crouches down. I slam the door and peek out of the window. They had come to the roadblock as well and stopped. The man on the motorcycle hops off and begins searching the cars with a crossbow. Fuck. Another man comes out of the RV with a gun in his hand. They both begin approaching my car.