A Pizza

A Pizza…

Hm, that would be nice right about now, although I’m sure our favorite pizza joint wouldn’t deliver way up here in the mountains. Considering current conditions, they wouldn’t get here anytime soon before things closed out.

A sharp crack rips through the air; dense menacing grey clouds whipped around in the turbulent sky above and around my little frozen perch. At least it pushed away all the stench from the decaying bodies strewn all along the sides. Remarkable how fast decay can set in, but I should have expected this in light of all the destruction rumbling fast towards me.

Damn, Jannie’s body lay at my feet, her bruised fingers still latched around the throat of some other climber. Hell, we put up a rather good fight. A really great fight that built in temerity and violence as the desperate and panicked throngs of people lucky enough to scramble up the mountain searching for any last gasp in hope of survival.

God’s Wrath we heard over the emergency frequency as Jannie, and I hiked along a forest trail. That was only a few minutes ago; trees cracking around us smashing into folks, cries of anguish bodies slamming up against rocks, debris and whatever else caught up in the forces tearing up the planet.

Poor Jannie, my love, my lady, seeing her lying there crumpled over the top of the other woman…oh, to share a last slice of pepperoni with her, a last kiss to sooth my aching lungs fighting to work against the growing pressure.

The cold increased again and I could see frost and flecks of ice forming on every surface now. I glanced down at my love’s body and wanted to hold her one last time, caress her cheeks with my hands. As if watching a movie, my arms reached out and pulled, the numbing cold of my fingers managing to grip tight about her yellow snow jacket; she liked that color even though it made her look fat, shh, don’t tell her that.

Up she came, heaving with every last ounce of strength until she lay close to my chest. Gently, I stroked her long brown hair away from her face then more sharp cracks sounded, the last remaining tree breaking away into the swirling mist creeping closer. Pain throbbed my temples, a coppery taste beginning to fill my mouth, lungs fighting hard to keep working.

Jannie…

Placid, brown eyes cold, flesh pale in an eerie placid hue, teeth clenched tight.

Oh, my sweet Jannie. Why did it have to come to this? Our last climb before nuptials, our last fling, adventure, fun…Jannie…

Damn those idiots they called scientists! How could they miss something that big in the sky? Miscalculations followed by all is well. Now this, the hazy dark grey with swirling debris, buildings; wait was that an iceberg I just saw whizzing by?

Grounds shaking harder now and her body slipped down threatening to pull me along into a roiling mess of everything considered humanity created along with god’s blessed terrain mixed in. My little perch on the side of the rocks, steadily breaking and grinding beneath me.

Pizza.

One last bite, what I would give for just that one last warm slice, the spicy hot taste of pepperoni on my tongue, a cold Coke washing down the greasy cheese and mushed crust to its fate in my stomach.

No, Jannie, don’t go!

She flickered away in the blink of a moment disappearing into the hell closing in, taken up by a strong pull while I fantasized about dinner.

Oh, God, why would you take things from us? Why are we realizing the smallness of our existence, your majestic power manifesting in this cataclysm blanking the world, snuffing out our existence. Would there be nothing left to mark humanity in the galaxy?

Pain erupted from my leg, I felt the crunch of bones as a round projectile smashed into it, smears of blood speckling my face. If I cried out, no one would hear above the howling around me.

Guess I’m not making that trip back down for that pizza.

Pizza…

What am I thinking about?

There’s more pressure building around my body, stifling, holding every effort to breath laborious and short. It’s almost time now but I can barely see anything, eyes frosted clouding my vision in a painful veil.

A buzz has started in my ears now, growing louder and louder the thumping pulse in my neck blood hitting hard and rapid forced along its course, body jerking and heaving while another sharp pain breaks through my right shoulder.

Jannie…

Would I see her again?

Pleasing smiles, innocent giggles as we danced in the moonlight, sharing that lost pizza we so loved. Man, I could feel her warm hands in mine, the open road, towering mountains, sweet smell of trees, flowers…oh Jannie.

I’m feeling light now, was I flying?

Am I breathing?

Is that a ring I’m hearing now? My phone no wait, the doorbell. I’ll get it dear!

Ah, the pizza’s here! Where’s my wallet?

My wallet?

The driver is at the door, Jannie’s low giggles echoing from the living room.

Here, my good man, how’s an extra ten for your troubles?

Jannie’s rapid claps I hear as I stride triumphantly towards her, box held high. She’s grinning, then looks back at the television where an awful screech is coming across every channel. There’s an odd hazy voice of some guy saying something I can’t make out.

Who cares, we have pizza to devour.

I’ve opened the box, playfully holding it away from her outstretched hands. Weighs a ton, but I lift a slice up, gooey strings of cheese streaming away.

Odd, it too is heavy, there’s that screech getting louder and louder. Jannie is desperately gazing up at me, pale face, eyes wide and glassy. I playfully flick my tongue out, or did I? Nothing but pain, sharp and coppery.

Why is there pressure on my face?

Jannie?

Jannie, where’d you go?

What’s this pain?

Where’s my pizza?

I’m hungry…hello…Jannie, did you take the—