"THE PLAGUE "

Letting Go

Natalie -

After we agreed to go towards the survival colony, we imidiantly started packing up supplies. We had plenty of food and weapons, but it still took a while to get ready to leave. Daniel continues to look for a map, while Billy is out side loading the ammunition into the guns. Miranda would help both of them back and fourth.

I asked if anyone needed help. I usually got "not right now" and "it's ok Nat , we got it," so now I mostly just sit on the stairs waiting.

"Okay, people, we need to get outta here soon," Billy says entering the house.

"We still need a map," Daniel shouts back from my dad's office.

"I know, I'm just saying we need to start getting on the road, we have a long way to go," Billy shouts back.

"Alright, just give us a minute," Miranda cuts in.

Billy sighs and looks at me.

"We need to leave before it gets dark," he says.

"It's good to know where we're going,though," I reply.

"Can't argu with you there, just start getting ready," he says with a smile.

"Okay," I answer starting to walk up stairs.

I go into my room and start to put things in my back pack. I get an extra set of close, bottle of water, my dad's lighter, a pocket knife, and finally a locket out of the droar on my night stand. I open it up to see a little heart shaped picture of me, Mom,Dad, and Justin. I sigh sadly and put the locket into my back pack, then look around the room, thinking if there's anything else I should bring.

A sudden squeak startles me.

 Hammy.

I walk over to the cage and get him out.

I look at him with concern.

I can't bring him with me, but he'll die if I leave him here. The little hamster looks up at me with it's beedy eyes.

I stroke his golden-brown fur comfortingly with a smile.

"I'm sorry," I say," I don't know what to do."

I here the door creek open behind me. Spinning around I see Daniel standing there.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey, are you ready to go," he replies.

I don't answer for a second looking down woried about Hammy.

Daniel walks over and neels down in front of me.

"Everything ,alright," he asks.

"Yes, it's just...what do I do with him," I respond. Daniel doesn't answer , he simply looks at me sympathetically.

"I know that I can't bring him, but I can't just leave him here alone," I say.

"Maybe," Daniel answers hesitantly," you should just let him go."

I look at him quizically.

"He would probably survive better on his own," he explains. I look down at Hammy again a little unsure of the idea, then back at Daniel.

"You know," Daniel says," I had a hamster once."

"really?" I reply.

"Yeah," Daniel explains," his name was Will, he was awesome, and a master escape artist.
Must've gotten out of his cage at least five times and he was great at doing tricks, but you know what the coolest thing about him was."

"What," I say intreeged by the story.

"Each time Will escaped, he would be gone for months at a time, we thought that he would end up dead, but he managed to survive," Daniel says.

I smile at his story's ending.

"So, you think he'll be fine on his own?"  I ask still a little unsure.

"I think if Will can do it, so can Hammy," he says with a slight smile.

"Okay..." I say.

Daniel pats my shoulder and stands up.

"I'm shure he'll be fine," he says exiting my room," we'll be down stairs when your ready."
I nod as he leaves.

"Okay, Hammy," I say taking a deep breath," I probably won't see you again, but I know you'll be alright, I'm going to miss you little guy."

I know that he probably doesn't understand me, but the tilting of his head makes it seem almost like he was listening.

I smile and pet Hammy one last time before letting him go.

On the front porch of our house I stand there as a soft breeze blows threw out the neighbour hood. I shiver slightly and zip up my red jacket.

The sun is shining brightly, though it is still early. I realize the neighbour hood isn't as deserted as I thought. Between the wind rustling the tree leaves, wind chimes spinning around musically on abandoned porches, and squirrels running among the new peopleless streets, it actually seems kind of alive in a subtle way.

As everyone starts to load into the truck, I think that maybe things aren't as bad as they seem.

"C'mon ,Natalie," Billy says motioning for me to get into the truck," it's time to go."

I nod and walk off the porch.

"You ready," Daniel asks.

"As I'll ever be," I say with a slight smile. He nods and gets into the truck.

"That's our girl."

I take one last look at the house. It also seems alive in a subtle way.

The memories I've had here will never be forgotten, with the thought of my mom's warm smile greeting me as I came home from school, my dad's kindness and joy that I'd always found contagious, and my brother's protective nature that I'd thought was annoying,but now seems more guiding.

Maybe one day, I'll see it again.