There's nothing like the putrid musk of roadkill rotting on the hot asphalt. As you get closer, it makes your eyes water and crawls down your throat until you can't breath. It's almost as if they want everyone to know they died, forcing them to feel guilty.
The stomach of the decaying creature bloats and maggots crawl under the skin making it look like something is living inside the flesh. Clumps of fur has been ripped from the body, leaving the corpse destroyed and ragged.
Only as a fly lands on its lifeless eye do I turn my head.
Feet pound at the ground as my sister runs up next to me. Immediately she drops to her knees and reaches for the dead animal.
"Jessica, No!" I scream at her. She looks up at me with desperate eyes. I can see her cheek bones jutting beneath the skin. Her once vibrant face turned a deathly pale so long ago. Even her hair has lost its color and is starting to fall out.
"Chas, I'm so hungry," she pleads. Her small fingers gasp at a maggot, pulling it from its treasure. Time seems to slow as she rests it in her mouth. I see it start to crawl around on her tongue right before she bites down with a load crunch. A small chuck of the insect hangs from the corner of her lips as her body start to convulses trying to keep the imposter in her mouth.
I grasp at her arm and try to drag her away.The smell hits again like a tidal wave, almost making me lose focus. It doesn't take much to pull away her weak figure.
The creature no longer lays in our sight, but the scent still lingers on our skin. Jessica bends over, releasing what little food she has I'm her stomach. It doesn't take long for the heaves to become dry. She is dying, I know that, I knew that a long time ago. We are both going to be on death's bed soon.
Jessica collapses to the ground, clutching her stomach in pain. Painfully, i swing my bag down from my shoulder. Unzipping it, i can see the insides are almost empty. I pull out the water--less than a quarter full.
"Here Jessica, drink." I hold the bottle to her lips. Before I know it, our only water is gone. Sighing, I lick at my chapped lips only to taste blood.
"Chas." I look down at her. "We're going to die aren't we?"
I collapse next to my sister, avoiding her question. "Remember a few years ago when Dad brought home the puppy."
I look down at her, to see her just smiling, to weak for words. I close my eyes trying to remember the moment. "We both had begged for years, until that day, a border collie came bounding in, drowning us in kisses..."
The memory starts to fade from my mind and I can no longer form words. Slowly, I reach over and take my sisters hand. Her squeeze is there, but faint. Were both going to die.
