Finding Love At the End of the World

I ran to the post station as soon as I finished planting the last seed in the garden. I wanted to get to the post station before it closed for the evening. I ran over to the counter. “Did a message come for me?”

Monica looked up from her log and shook her head. “No, nothing yet.”

“Oh, okay, thanks Monica.” I turned to walk back out the door when Monica placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry Jasmine, I’m sure he’ll send a message tomorrow.”

“I hope so. I got the okay to send him the address. You don’t think he got caught by any raiders do you?”

Monica shook her head. “The last group of raiders were caught. I haven’t heard about a new group since then. It won’t be long before you’ll get a letter. Maybe he’ll find a present.”

“That would be nice. Thanks Monica I’ll go wash up now before grabbing dinner. I hope I didn’t drag any dirt in here.”

Monica waved it away. “It’s fine! I know you’re excited to hear from him.”

I gave a sheepish smile. “Let me know and I’ll help clean.”

“Will do Jasmine. Have a great day and I’ll see you in the canteen for dinner.”

“Okay,” I gave another wave as I walked out of the post station. Since we managed to rebuild our city one of the buildings people were excited to have again was a post station. It’s not like the post office where someone could pull up your record with the computer. Now we have to go back to writing everything down and organizing things by hand. I didn’t realize how convenient computers were, until everything shut down. Now that we’re rebuilding things I can look back on the many things I miss. After the outbreak society collapsed much faster than I expected. My sister, Lisa, and I managed to get out. I wished that was the same with my parents, but I heard that our neighbor made it quick.

Life after that was hard. I learned a lot during that time. How to shoot a gun, how to turn trash into food, keeping watch at night, trying to survive with three hours of sleep, and how to make a lot of weapons. The scariest part was when Lisa got sick. I learned how to make clean water, but I didn’t know how to make medicine. I risked breaking into an abandoned drug store to get something that hadn’t expired when I was nearly done in by a zombie. I closed my eyes and gripped the bag of medicine with Lisa in mind when I heard a gunshot go off. I opened my eyes to see a guy standing in the doorway with a handgun and a nearby zombie twitching off to the side in a pool of blood. I was afraid to get up. I didn’t know if he was going to try to rob me or take me to work in a settlement in exchange for medicine. Even though he offered his hand and told me his name was Liam I still didn’t trust him. I didn’t want to go with him, but the sounds of a few zombies made up my mind very quickly.

On our way back to Lisa I kept my distance. I learned my lesson after nearly getting sold to a cult when me and Lisa thought the person was being nice. Even though I did my best not to reveal much information about me or Lisa I ended up talking to him while we were traveling. It took us two days to get back to Lisa and thankfully no zombie found our makeshift home. Lisa nearly stabbed him to death when I walked in with him. I quickly explained how he saved me and helped me get the medicine. Lisa thanked Liam, but it took her longer to warm up to him.

Once Lisa was better we were traveling again. I had to admit that having Liam with us made things easier. There were some bumps in the road. We had to learn how to cook for three people instead of two, but Liam made it easier by catching his food. He had bigger containers so we could have more clean water. He even showed me how to clean different pieces of trash so we could use it for later. It wasn’t long before my mistrust turned to curiosity which turned into wanting to learn more about him. Lisa teased me that I was falling for him since we had a lot of hobbies in common. Well, before the outbreak and collapse of society of course. Still, I couldn’t deny how much I liked spending the night talking to him about my life before as a secretary for a law office. Liam talked about his life as a chef. He was so close to opening his own restaurant before he had to put everything on pause. He really wanted to do it again one day. Despite the world around us falling apart we shared hope that things would change for the better soon.

While we were traveling to find some more food Liam learned about a settlement outside the city where a lot of survivors were going to. There was still the fear that it would be a cult, but it was a risk we were willing to take. The way there was hard. Between the lack of food, our clean water dwindling, and the heat we didn’t know if we would make it. We managed to find an abandoned coffee shop to sleep in before we continued to the last leg of our journey. That night I ended up sleeping on him. I can remember the way he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. I may have been exhausted, but I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

We made the coffee shop a temporary base while we prepared everything for the last leg of our journey. Me and Liam may have grown closer during that time. I remember the night I was going to officially confess when our little base was nearly overrun by zombies! Me and Lisa did a good job fighting them, until we nearly ran out of bullets. Liam cleared a way for us so we could escape. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to be with him. I can still remember the smile Liam gave me before he kissed him then shoved me out the door. I banged on it to let me back in so I could help him when Lisa pulled me away from the door. I didn’t want to think that our first kiss would end up being our last one.

We made it to the settlement and helped them clear out the remaining zombies. The survivors who were previously doctors helped people who had gotten bit, but wasn’t that far gone yet. It looked like things had finally started to settle down. Instead of zombies there were raiders, humans who went to different settlements to steal, who attacked instead. It was something else we had to learn to deal with, but after dealing with zombies I’d rather deal with humans again. When we were able to accept mail I got a letter from Liam! I was so happy, until my mind started going into overtime.

Was it really Liam?

Could it be someone playing a trick on me?

Was he still alive?

I told the leaders of the settlement about him. I even showed the journals where he wrote about coming to the settlement to start life again as a chef. All the leaders didn’t agree with me sending out our location, but since I saved so many plants in the garden they decided to give me a chance. Since that day I have looked for a letter for him everyday. I didn’t want to think about the possibility that I wouldn’t see him again.

I walked back to my room with Liam on my mind once again. It was part of my new daily routine. In the morning I wake up, get ready in the communal bathroom area, eat at the canteen, go tend to the garden, take care of any plants that didn’t make it, eat lunch, then check the other plots, until I go to bed. Liam would drift in and out of my mind, until it was time to check the post station.

I took off my dirty clothes and placed them in the pile of clothes to be taken to the wash house. We didn’t have any washing or drying machines. We did manage to find some clotheslines along with scrubbers. I’m so glad I don’t have laundry duty this week. I grabbed my change of clothes and headed to the showers. After I finished I changed into my sweats and a t-shirt then headed to the canteen for dinner. On my way I heard my name. I turned to see Lisa and Monica walking my way. I greeted them with a smile. I wanted to ask them about the meal for tonight when they stood on either side of me and gently linked our arms together.

I looked at them both with a frown. “Guys? What are you doing?”

Lisa smiled. “We have a surprise for you.”

Monica happily nodded. “We do! Come with us!”

Before I could say anything I was being taken to the newcomers tents. It’s an area we have for people that others find on their daily foraging for food. Lisa and Monica ignored my questions on the way, until they stopped at a tent. Before I could fuss at them they pulled back the flaps to reveal Liam who was on a cot being tended to by a nurse. I could fuss at them later Liam made it!

I ran over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “You made it!”

Liam smiled as he pulled me close. “I did. I’m home.”

“Welcome home!” I whispered powerless to stop the tears rolling down my cheeks.

Now I could start my new life.