crawl to you

the lord giveth and the lord taketh

"...and that's why algae is essential to marine life." He looks at his wristwatch."Class dismissed. Don't forget you have until Friday to hand in your essays."

The class empties out, and he sits on his desk, packing his things. He sighs. Jack senses someone looking at him. He looks up and sees one of his students.

She's dainty and very shy–He recalls seeing her at the front during his classes.

"Professor Avery." She starts. "Does pollution affect the algae growth?"

He smiles softly. Finally, someone is curious about something. His class always seems so dead. "Well, with the overall water temperature rising, it creates a leeway for harmful algae to exist." He quickly goes on his computer and turns it to her. It was a picture of a lake filled with algae. "Here, you can see that the algae thrives on warm, slow-moving water."

"But how is it toxic? Does it have to do with the water organisms?"

Jack nods. "In a way, yeah. The warmer the temperature, the easier it is to move." He turns his computer to himself. "Hey, I'll be attending a conference about climate change on Friday. You should show up." He suggests.

The girl nods. "I'll be there. My mom is speaking there."

"Really? Who is she?"

"Grace Hanson."

Jack nods. "She's an amazing biologist. I am working with her on a thesis."

The girl smiles. "I've been reading it. It's coming along nicely. However, I would focus more on microplastics."

Jack furrows his eyebrows but nods. "A very interesting and current topic."

The girl chuckles at the pun, but then turns serious."Uhmm, Professor... Are you free now?" Jack nods his head. "Do you want to maybe... go out?"

Jack takes a small step back."Ms. Hanson. You're my student. It's ethically wrong."

"Is it ethically wrong because I'm your student or because you're working with my mom?"

Jack crosses his arms. "I'm willing to pretend this didn't happen, Ms. Hanson." He quickly packs his things and leaves the classroom.

Jack paces to his office, where he locks himself. He leans on the door and sighs. He stays there for a moment before sitting on his desk and opening his computer. Jack works for hours on his thesis, to the point where he can barely open his eyes.

Work is his only distraction. He knows his apartment is empty. There is no significant other waiting for him at home. He checks his phone. Nothing.

Jack sighs and grabs all his things. He walks to his car and drives home. It's a short drive, but when you're alone, it feels like it's longer.

He enters his apartment and locks the door. Jack takes off his shoes and clothes and makes a beeline to his bathroom to shower. It's what mommentarily washes his loneliness away. The water is warm, reminding him of a human touch.

Jack prepares a small dinner for himself and eats in silence. He doesn't speak much at home. It's not like the walls can talk back to him.

That's the consequence of not making friends at university. Loneliness. His friends were all back in his hometown while he was on the other side of the state. It's a choice he made, and he has to live with it.

After dinner, he washes the dishes and goes to his living room. He grabs a book to read. He picks World War Z.

He opens it and begins reading it.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh.

Jack flicks through the pages of the book like wildfire. The whole premise of zombies is irrealistic, but the book is good. He only stops when he can no longer keep his eyes open. Jack bookmarks it and goes to bed.

He gets in his cold sheets. If he had a significant other, he would warm up fast. Maybe a little boyfriend wouldn't hurt him. Someone kind and brave. Someone who fills the silence or finds peace in his quietness.

The Lord giveth him his degree... and the Lord taketh his love life and buried it.

People usually are intimidated by his status. Being a university professor at such a young age is scary. Some of his students are older than him. Hence, the no love life thing. At all.

He does recall a girlfriend in middle school, but nothing too serious. And a few drunk makeouts during his freshman year at university. Other than that, he was dry as a desert.

Jack sighs as sleep slowly takes over him. May tomorrow be a good day.

***

He runs as fast as he can to his car as he's being chased by a group of zombies. Jack gets in his car and locks all doors.

Clearly, it's not a good day.

Jack breathes heavily as he realises he came out unscathed. "Jesus fuck." He heaves.

He dials his sister's number.

"Hello?"

"Syd! Hide! Zombies!" He screams.

"Jack, you're not making any sense. Just take a deep breath."

The curly head sighs and takes two deep breaths. He turns on his car. "Zombies. I am driving home to you guys right now." He speeds out of campus. "Give me two hours. Don't go out, gather supplies."

"Jack... did you read Mary Shelly or something? Things are normal here."

"Definitely not dreaming. Just grab some backpacks and pack them with supplies."

The line falls silent.

"Syd... are you there?" He gives her a few seconds to answer. "Sydnie?"He calls her again when he didn't obtain an answer.

"Holy shit." He heard her.

"Syd, are you okay?"

"It's real... it's actually happening." She sounds like she's in a daze.

"Yeah, it is... Ava and Isla are still at school."  He reminds her.

She's gasps. "I'll go pick them up right now." Jack can hear her pick up her keys and rush out.

"Keep them safe." He begs and hangs up.

Jack focuses back to the road.

***

A year later.

He wipes the sweat that slowly drips down his face. Jack pats the dirt with the shovel and drops to his knees sobbing.

He cries until he has no tears left in him. Jack prays, he yells at God for his grave mistake.

Burying your sisters isn't an easy task. it had taken him a day to have the courage to do so. Jack wrapped them in their own bedsheets and gave them a proper funeral.

He leans his forehead on the dirt. Jack promises right there and then to live for his sisters. They relied on him and
Sydnie to stay alive. How cruel the world is.

The Lord giveth him three sisters and the Lord taketh them away from him.

Jack prays to whatever is up in the sky, watching over him to keep his sisters safe. He begs for their safety and his own.

He numbly stands up and walks in the house they were taking cover in. Jack starts packing his bag to flee the cemetery he created. He makes sure that the plaques with his sister's initials are safe in his bag.

That is the burden he shall carry for as long as he lives. It shall weigh on his back while he walks. It shall cross his mind while he sleeps.

Jack was unable to save his beloved  family.

Maybe I should go to California and see the whales before I go.