The morning was humid and sunny. They had risen early, at dawn, to begin planting the fields. Rows and rows of moist soil ready to nurture this year's crop of corn. Lee, having done this his whole life, had saved seeds from last year and now each member of the family had their pockets full of kernels. Without the help of machinery, the fields seemed immense wastelands as Evelyn moved down each row dropping golden kernels into the raised earth, using the ball of her foot to press them lightly down. The sun had risen until it was poised directly over them like some fierce angel. She stood up straight and stretched her arms over her head, raising her face to catch the light.
They worked through until noon, when Lee waved a halt and suggested a water break. They set their seeds down in small piles to return to later and went to the shade cast down by the house into the front yard while he went inside for a bottle. The easiest way to collect it, they'd soon discovered, was by filling a gallon at the river every day, and not by setting bottles out to catch the rain. The sound of water filling an empty bottle had brought the Creatures closer. Now Lee handed the gallon to Evelyn, who took a long drink directly from the plastic container, then passed it to Marcus.
As the water, cool from the darkness of the house, ran down her throat Evelyn lay down in the grass to rest. A gentle breeze passed over them, and she closed her eyes. They were all exhausted by fear, but sometimes, in a pure silence such as this, she felt safe enough. She opened her eyes as she felt Marcus touch her shoulder some minutes later.
Back to work.
She smirked. Don't look so excited.
He shrugged, then took her hand as they walked back together.
Evelyn began to feel strange through the next hour. Her neck and chest were sweaty and hot to the touch, yet every time the breeze blew over her she felt a sickly cold, a horrible storm of dread in her stomach. The minutes passed, and just as she thought it might be a simple mix of overheating and potential dehydration she threw a hand over her mouth and sank to the ground. A muffled retching sound, and then vomit slid from between her fingers down onto the ground in front of her. Lee and Marcus turned at the noise, and she held up her free hand to signal that she was all right, but Lee was already moving, motioning for his children to stay where they were.
From halfway across the field he reached her in seconds, looking around them quickly, wincing at the raw sound of her vomiting into her lap. He crouched next to her, running a worn palm over her back as she brought up bile, then continued to rub as she sat up, her face pale and sweaty. She looked around as well, aware that she had made noise. After a moment, she sighed, holding one hand against her raw throat. She felt gutted, like a fish lain on ice at the market.
OK?
She nodded. OK.
You're sick? He looked worried. She'd been fine through the day, and going to the pharmacy was a three hour hike.
She shook her head. I feel better now. Maybe the fish from last night. She saw Regan and Marcus beginning to walk forward toward their parents. I'm fine, she signed, just tired.
Regan, help your mom get inside and downstairs, Lee signed, looking up at his daughter. You want to sleep?
Evelyn shook her head, but they both knew she was lying. She'd told him early in the After that sleep was her only true escape. She warred with it yet craved the escape it offered. Often she awoke suddenly in the night to find the trails of tears down her cheeks, her neck wet with them. Sleep offered a paradise she could never have, and the never ending nightmare that consisted of the single moment just before their youngest child died. His large eyes, locked onto hers for the smallest instant before -
