He looked around. Rubble, dust, smoke. It burned his eyes to see his home town completely desamated. But he was okay. And alive. Relief was washed away quickly with guilt and grief, as he realised his child, Sophie, was no where to be found. He started to tear at the rubble surrounding his feet, desperate for that cry he'd usually dread. She was only 5. He could not find her.
'Dan? Is that you bud?'
He turned around, it was his neighbour and closest friend, Harry, holding a baby in his arms.
'You survived Dan!'
'I-' He started'i cant find my Sophie!'
Harrys face went from relief to horror and he too started to search for her. Hours passes, more people turned up full of hope, they had just survived what was thought to be the end of the world.
People started finding corpses, He can bring himself to look in the 'found pile' for her, so Harry goes instead, each time coming back saying she isnt there.
People start finding household items in the rubble. A pretty-much-still-in-tact pan, and gas stove or three, cans of food and gardens are still available, and so people start to split off into groups. The cooks, who cook any food people find, the locators, who locate alive people and bring them to the settlement, the searchers, who search for corpses, the scavegers, who search the rubble of homes for anything that could help, and the idetentifiers, who figure out who the bodies are and who their familys are.
He sat near the edge of the settlement, hoping someone would bring back his Sophie when the locators came back from their rounds, yet no one did. There were a few people still missing, and people had started taking notes on who wasnt found. Harry put Sophies name as an 'unfound' and joined back up with his wife and son, after giving Him a few words of encouragement and hope. A cook came over to him and he recognised her as a student, often seen walking her dog.
'Hello sir, are you hungry? Theres plently to go around' she said, in a positive, shakey voice.
He shook his head, he couldnt bring himself to speak.
She sat down with him, and didnt talk. The silence was heavy but connecting.
'I know your daughter is out there somewhere. Theres still people to find, maybe she's found them and is safe'
The girls mother had not been found yet either.
'Its okay sir, even if she doesnt turn up, shes safe. You are always safe if there is faith.' She said, almost talking to herself.
She handed him a bowl of mac and cheese, it looked delicious, he didnt eat it.
'Ask the moon for help, it seeks to protect tonight' she said gleefully, and skipped off.
He was starving, but couldnt bring himself to eat. Not whilst Sophie was out there, possibly scared or in danger. He promised himself he'd look for her when it was safe to get her home, and passed out against a tree.
He awoke to yelling and panic, a change from last nights calm atmosphere. Harry was by his side.
'Dan, shes been found!'
'Sophie?'He asked,still half asleep
'Yes!' Harry hurried off in a rush, and it was enough for him to wake up and follow attentively. He was not prepared for the state she'd be in.
She was in a makeshift medical area,looking like she'd been mauled by a bear. He nearly broke down when he saw her. The only thing stopping him was the hugs and support from everyone, realising that was his child. They took him away from her, much to his distress and dismay. And sat him near a river. And talked. Just talked. He didnt join in, he didnt have too.
The nurse came over to where he was sat, and delivered the news.
My dear reader, you may be hopeful,you may think that She lives. She doesnt,for i am Sophie. My Father recieved the news on 11.7.2140, at 9:34 am, that i had passed, after a dangerous night alone. I was inbetween the state of life and death for hours before they found me. I died surrounded by people who knew me, and knowing that my father loved me.
He is still in a state, 3 years later. He is in a constant state of apathy, and has been hospitalised many times. He wishes to join me.
