Reborn

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

New Hope

I wake back up in the empty building feeling cold and alone. My face and hands feel cold from the wind blowing through the broken door while my body feels warm from the clothes I got on. Sitting up against the wall, I rub my hands together, trying to warm them. As I look around, I see everybody inside the building with me sleeping. The dim blueish light from outside shines through the cracks of the boarded-up window. I stand up, hearing nothing but silence beside the wind blowing outside. Walking out of the abandoned little shop, I see William standing near the truck next to the now charcoal wood. The sky was dim with the wind softly blowing against us. I see a single bird in the far distance fly past us into the abyss. William looks over at me. I look at him, seeing his tired eyes and combed-back hair.

"Morning Emma"

"Hey William, Where is everybody?"

"They're still sleeping, I think we're the only ones awake"

I walk over, stand next to him, and look up at the dim sky

"What are you doing out here alone?"

William pauses

"I just came out here to clear my head."

I look over at him

"You wanna talk about what's going on?"

He sighs

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened with the world. I was helping Jason with his speech then.... We didn't know what was going on, we thought they wouldn't drop the nukes but...they did." He pauses, his head bobs down, staring into the trunk. "But the one thing I was most shocked about, was my brother coming back to get me. See he wasn't always the brave man he now is. Years ago...he got addicted to drugs. He and our father always fought. Almost every night I'd hear them yelling at each other. Arguing about why Weston was out so late and about his grades dropping. Weston always got himself into horrible situations. It got so bad to the point that he dropped out of college. Saying that it was a waste of effort and that he had better things to do rather than focusing on his education. At that point, I started trying to get him back up on his feet, but each time I tried to help him, we would just start arguing all over again. By the time I finished college, I decided to move out and focus on myself. Since then, I haven't received a call from him or a letter. I truly never knew what happened to him. Deep down...I thought he hated me and never wanted to see me again."

"I think he always cared for you, even after you left them. He just needed to help himself and get back on his feet. Sometimes, we can try our hardest to help someone. But only they can help themselves"

"Yeah...I guess you are right. I was just shocked seeing him again after all those years." William turns around, leans against the truck, and looks at me. "Have you been doing alright?"

I pause

"Not really. I just lost my mother a few days ago, I'm still trying to move on from what happened"

"I'm sorry about that, Emma. I was depressed when I was growing up without my mom. My dad used to tell me about her a lot. It's gonna take time trying to move on from what happened with her. but eventually, you will"

"I know."

Suddenly, I hear footsteps from behind me. Slowly pulling my gun out, I start to raise it at whoever may be approaching us, but William stops me. Making me lower my gun. Emerging from the silent, broken building are Brian, Jason, and Weston.

"Morning guys!" William says

Jason yawns while sitting down on the ground next to the burnt wood

"Morning Will"