"Darling don't be scared, we will see each other soon," he started to disappear to my horror, he became almost misty, like everything else he was dying. "No you can't, you can't...." I said grabbing for the space that was him, "soon," is the last thing I hear before waking.
There is something at the door, my hopes that it's human get shot down when I get to the window, it's one of those thing, there was a slight build up over night. I grab my gun and the few bullets I have left along with my baseball bat and head out back to get my bike without incident, I head out of the neighborhood without the things noticing me.
It's quite in town as usual, in the month since the electricity finally stopped its been eerie, the only thing I hear is my breath and my bike, as I stroll through town, I miss how loud the world used to be, I miss food, I miss showers, I miss people. I am only 16 how am I supposed to survive an apocalypse by myself??
As I come onto the usual avenue I hear a crash and a scream, "help, help! oh god help!!" It's coming from behind the quickie-mart, I jump off my bike in a run, I head around back and see someone on top of a garbage can, three of those things are grabbing at the persons feet. I whistle and all four of them look at me..... my heart gallops, it's him,its him! I lift my bat and run toward the things, as I crush their skulls he gets down and wipes himself off.
When they are finally dead I turn to look at him, we just look at each other,
"Nicholas....." I say as I go to him in a rush, when I get to him I kiss him and everything is okay with the world. He pulls away to look at me, he smiles his dimpled smile and I just break down.
"I thought you were dead" he says his voice breaking.
"I dreamt about you always" I say wiping away my tears.
"We have to get somewhere safe, lets get inside the store, I cleared it out" he says taking my hand.
We get inside the store, which to my surprise is protected really well. I walk quietly, not sure what to say, he holds my hand firmly as he leads me to a back office, once we get there I see he's been staying here for awhile, he has a bed, pictures of his family and .... food.
He catches my eyeing the food and grabs a can of pineapples and offers it to me with a can opener. once I get it open I eat it like an animal,
"Merida, how long has it been since you last ate?" he asks with an edge of concern in his voice.
"About a week or so" I say.
He looks unsatisfied with the answer but doesn't push. I see a cassette player and get excited, I go to it and flick it on, Patsy Cline is playing, I look at him and smile.
"May I have this dance?" I ask, offering him my hand. he laughs and accepts, we shuffle in an awkward circle as the song plays.
I close my eyes and lay my head on his chest and listen for his heart, this is what I've wished for this past year, for him to be alive and well. I look up at him,
"I have missed you so much" I say kissing him.
"Let's lay down" he says gesturing for the bed.
I've never had a fear of losing my virginity, especially to Nick, but now that we're alone and the opportunity is there I feel a twinge of fear in my stomach. He picks up on this and kind of chuckles,
"Merida, I haven't seen you in almost a year that is not at the top of my list right now" he says laying down and pulling me down too.
We lay there and stare at each other forever, he smiles and plays with a lock of my hair.
