Silence -- A Short Story by Amanda Myers

Silence

The candlelight flickers, softly illuminating a family of three at a table. Each holding the other's hand, silently in prayer before they go to eat the small ration, carefully split between each one of them. The younger one of the two kids gazes over her portion uneasily.

"Is there something wrong sweetie?" the mother asks, concerned.

Shrugging, the little one points at her mother's empty plate, "Are you not gonna eat mama?" The mother chews on her bottom lip, choosing her response carefully.

"I will, just not at this moment, I'm not that hungry. Now then, hurry and eat your vegetables."

The younger nods and quickly chows down on the few beans and carrots scattered across the plate. Stomach grumbling, the mother forces a small smile onto her face.

Silence once again falls upon the three as the children finish up their supper. This time, the oldest pipes up. "Mom—? When is Dad comin' home?"

The question catches her by surprise, "When the war ends of course." she says simply.

Her oldest gives her a confused look, "But the war has been going on for three years now. We're running out of food, and the battle line draws closer every night."

The mother's eyes widen, "Who told you that?"

Her son shrugs, "Some of my friends at school, and I overheard the reporter on your television."

"The news is false. Nothin' they say these days is true, just made up to keep their viewers. And your friends are just as clueless to believe it. Now go clear off your dish." She says, attempting to brush off the reality of the situation.

The boy nods, picking up his dish and quickly exits the room, along with his little sister. Exhaling, the mother rests her head on the table. After only a brief moment of silence, the sound of an engine roars overhead, quickly followed by a hurried knock at the door. The mother rushes to the doors and flings them open.

The door slams on the wall as it reveals a young man, maybe in his early twenties, with a panicked look on his face.

"Ma'am you and your family need to evacuate now!" The man exclaims, out of breath, "The war found its way to our doors! There is a train evacuating the town, you need to hurry!" With that, the man ran off to warn the other households.

"Kids!" The mother yelled, her voice tense from the fear. The pair ran down the hall, and the mother escorts them out of the house.

Immediately, the group was swarmed in the chaos, pushed and shoved among the crowded street. More planes soared above the panicked crowd as sirens began to scream. As more and more sweaty bodies begin to rush through, the pace begins to pick up.

Everyone begins to run. Running for their lives at this rate. The mother looks left and right looking for a shortcut, an escape. All the while, keeping her hands tightly grasped around her children.

As the sign for the railroad tracks draws closer, the mother's eyes begin to light up with hope. Pure adrenaline begins to take over her body as she begins to plow through the crowd of frantic people. She is determined to save herself and her kids.

The train comes into view, urging the mother to run faster, dragging her kids along. The conductor starts to call for the final boarding as what seems like hundreds of people begin to cram themselves in. The mother is almost out of time.

She pushes with the last of her strength and manages to squeeze her kids onboard.

"Mom?" her son looks scared, "Are you not coming?"

The mother gives a weak smile, "No I will, there's just no room left on this train car. I'll get on the next one."

Her daughter smiles at her, "Promise?"

"I promise."

She takes one last look at her two kids. "Take care of your sister, okay? I'll meet up with you guys at the reserve."

"We need to go!" the conductor shouts.

The mother gives her kids one last smile. "I love you guys so much—"

The train starts to power away as another plane soars above. It's bigger than the others.

Tears pour down the mother's face.

The plane opens a hatch and releases the end.

And then?

Silence.