METRO 2030

The End of Life

I remember the day the bombs fell...it was a bright sunny summer day, and all was well...

"Lincoln...Lincoln...Lincoln literally wake up you lazy bum we're almost there" Lori said nudging him on the shoulder.

Lincoln opened his eyes to the blindingly bright light of the sun, and glanced at Lori "Hmm...mmm...I don't wanna." He replied rolling his head toward the passenger window, and shutting his eyes again.

Lori rolled her eyes and grabbed a twizzler out of the bag of candy Lincoln had brought with him. "Are you sure?" She asked with a devilish smile.

Lincoln replied with a loud groan and continued his attempt to fall back asleep.

"Ok you asked for it Lori" smiled and began to whip Lincoln with the red candy.

"Ow...ow...ow...stop...ok ok I'm up I'm up." Lincoln said as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. It took a minute for them to adjust to the bright summer light, but once they did he could see the massive city in the distance and a large smile appeared on his face.

Lori shot a quick glance at him and noticed noticed his smile "Are you excited to see Ronnie Anne?" she asked.

Lincoln looked at her "yeah I haven't seen her in so long. It's gonna be great to finally catch up with her and the rest of the Casagrande family." Lincoln said excitedly. "Are you?"

"Of course I am! It's been so long since I've seen Bobby. I can't wait!" Lori shouted and let out an ear pierce screech of excitement.

"Shhhhhh Lily's asleep." Lincoln quickly said in a hushed tone. Reminding his careless sister of their younger sister who had just fallen asleep.

Lori looked back at Lily and noticed she was still asleep, but her head had bobbed from the loud noise. "Oh right...my bad." Lori whispered then grinned at Lincoln.

"Why did you bring her anyway?" Lincoln asked as he gently pulled Lily's blanket over her.

"I wanted to see how Bobby handles babies now. Last time I tried it didn't go as well as I was originally hoping, but that was because of the whole stupid having to wear each other's clothes thing, Sooo...I thought I would try again." She said.

"So you want to have kids then?" Lincoln asked.

"Yes...no...maybe look I don't know I just want to see how he handles parenting you know." Lori said.

"No I don't really know, but it sounds like it could be a good idea." Lincoln said in a supportive way.

Lori slowed the car down, as they pulled off the highway and entered Chicago. They could see hundreds of people scattered through the streets each quickly moving about like ants in a massive colony. Some would enter large buildings that stood so tall they touched the sky, while others descended into the dark tunnels that lead to the subway. For Lincoln, a kid that had always lived in a rural farm town in northern Michigan, the place was almost overwhelming. He could feel his anxiety beginning to tense up as the horns of frustrated driver rang out every moment they continued down the packed streets.

"Look at this city isn't it great, the buildings the people, I can't wait until Collage starts, and I get to live my life here!" Lori yelled excitedly This time waking Lily who immediately started to cry.

"Look what you did." Lincoln snapped at his older sister.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean too"

"I told you to be quiet" he scolded her.

"How do we get her to stop?" Lori asked as the van pulled to a stop at a red light.