Page 122 of Last Light

There’s nothing left for me here.

Travis is still holding Cheryl tightly.

I feel a soft touch on my arm and turn to see Anna. She’s smiling, but her expression is sympathetic. I don’t know what she’s seeing on my face, but her eyes are very kind. “I see the other Meadows folks over in the far corner there. You want to say hello?”

I nod gratefully. “Yeah. That would be great.”

We walk away, leaving Cheryl in Travis’s arms.

There are only forty-seven people left from Meadows, and most of them are grouped together in the corner. A few are sleeping, but most are sitting around, talking or eating soup.

I say hello to everyone. A lot of them I know, and a lot of the others look familiar. I try to be friendly, to chat with everyone, and I eat the bowl of soup that someone gives me. But after about half an hour, I really can’t stand it anymore.

I like a lot of these people, but none of them I love.

There’s Anna. I love her.

And Travis.

I love him too.

That’s it.

All the other people I knew and loved who left with the rest of the town must have died somewhere along the way.

I don’t even ask about them.

I know for sure they’re gone.

There were three thousand people in my town before the asteroid hit.

Now there are fifty, including me, Travis, and Anna.

This is the world I live in now.

People you love don’t remain.

I’m so emotional that I can’t make small talk anymore, and I finally plead exhaustion. I find an empty space next to the wall, spread out the sleeping bag, and use my bag as a pillow.

I turn onto my side, facing the wall. I hug myself tightly.

The sleeping bag smells like Travis. It belongs to Travis. I probably shouldn’t still be using it. He’ll need it tonight. But I don’t have anything else to sleep on.

Travis is still with Cheryl. I made a point of not looking around for them, but I know where he’ll be.

He has every right to be there.

They’ve shared a lot. They lost a child.

She probably assumed she’d never see him again.

I don’t have anyone in my life like that. Just my ninth grade English teacher.

All the other people I share a history with are dead and gone.

I don’t even have Travis anymore.

I thought we’d reach Fort Knox and I could finally let out my breath. I thought I could finally relax. Be safe.

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