They, trapped in a toxic relationship. She, slowly dying because of him. He, slowly dying because of himself. They, who love each other. She, who thought she could still fight. He, who knew the best he could do was to walk away. They, who are not together anymore. She, who saved him from himself. He, who saved her from himself.

She, trapped in an abusive relationship. He, desperate to save her. She, blinded by a sick kind of love. He, dying to take her away from all the pain. She, who's got to believe she deserves that life. He, who only wants her to be happy.

"You're just a girl, not even a pretty one. You were just something to fill my spare time, nothing more. And these? Well they're just notes."

A devastating blast destroys civilization as Beatrice knows it, forcing her to face an entirely new kind of life. But life after the blast has more wonder and hope in it than she imagined. ***** After a series of atomic blasts force Beatrice Hicks and her family into their prepper bunker, they emerge to discover they are among the survivors of a nuclear apocalypse. Soon they find themselves clashing with rogue groups and contending with death in their quest to survive and build a new life in this daunting world. Amidst it all, Beatrice must fight to maintain her humanity, so that she can learn to see the beauty in her life after the blast and even find love where she least expects it. 2014 Watty Award Winner! Content Warning: death, gun violence, and assault