Found

Found

I woke up in a pile of ash.

Debris and rubble all around.

The whole world shook when that last wave hit.

Fires everywhere.

The whole town is leveled.

What the hell where they thinking messing with those?

My whole body ached, even my hair hurt. Nobody tells you that the end of the world will hurt so much. But that was a week ago now. Today I'm healing. Today I have to leave. Today I need to find a car or a bike, maybe a horse? Anything faster than walking. I have some ground to cover, and I want to get going. You see when I woke up it took me a day to even find other people. I thought I may have been the only one left but finding others, that gave me hope. I needed hope.

As I clutch the heart shaped locket around my neck and it's my heart that aches this time. An anniversary present. Inside is a picture of my husband, a dark haired broad shouldered handsome man and the sweetest little boy you'll ever see. We got separated when that final blast came through. No one was prepared for that to happen. I always talked about crazy things and what ifs. We made a plan years ago in case we were ever apart about where we would meet. So that's where I'm headed. See my anxiety word vomit might have just paid off. The other people here are trying to rebuild and regroup but I don't have time for that. So I'm heading west. There's a small beach town where we first met. If, no scratch that, when I get there, my boys will be there. At our favorite place near the pier.

The past few days in search of a mode to travel has given me time to gather what I need. This town of broken buildings I'm currently wondering through seems to have the most potential for what I’m trying to find. A car. There's no way I could be that lucky right? As I turn the corner on the last street to start heading out of town there's an old Chevy pickup missing its windshield and a door but all four tires are there so here's hoping. I've never hotwired a car before… what I wouldn't kill for Google right now! As I look around, I'm surprised the keys are still in the ignition. I don't want to think about why. I turn the key and the engine roars, thank God there's life still in it, and a full tank of gas. Who did I appease today? As I send up my silent thank you, I turn left and keep heading west.

As I drive the streets here though it is becoming clear this journey is soon about to be back on foot. There are far too many collapsed buildings I keep finding myself caught at dead ends. So I found a spot I knew I'd remember and I left the truck and take the keys with me for safe keeping. Everywhere I try seems to be blocked so I will have to go up and over. As I climb up through the remnants of broken buildings I'm praying that this city isn't completely gone. That would break my heart. We have so many memories here, it's where we got married and where we started our family. I finally get to the top and see the ocean from this high up. I take a deep breath and look around, and it seems like this town didn't fair so badly. I get a moment to feel that hope again.

I descend the other side of the wreckage and start to make my way through the city. It's going to be night soon and I don't know if I'll make it the whole way to the coast in time. I go as far as I can with the daylight I have left, and I know I only have a couple miles left to get me there, but if I've learned anything so far it's you need to find a safe place when the sun goes down. I come across a few shops and possible apartment buildings. Trying my luck I check a few doors, all locked but down the side of the building there's a broken window. I take my chances. Inside it's completely furnished and looks like no one has looted here yet so I think this will do for the night.

I can't sleep. I'm too close to everything I want to be able to sleep. I look through the cabinets and closets and find something to eat thankfully and come across an extremely odd number of towels. Like who needs this many towels what are you cleaning? I sit and eat my snack and count towels to hurry the time until morning. At the first sign of sunlight, I shimmed my way back through the window trying to leave the place as untouched as I found it. I walk another mile and I can really start to smell the salty air I'm getting so close to the beach I'm thinking a jog sounds nice. I can't help but pick up my pace as I round the final block that will break open to the view of the ocean and that pier that's holding all my hopes. I take my shoes off and head off into the sand the pier is only about a half mile down the beach and I take off running. I finally get close, but I see no sign of anybody else around, I'm too afraid to call out for fear no one will answer. I walk a little way further down the beach and still I see no one. I decide to turn back. Maybe I should just wait by the piers edge? Maybe they haven't gotten here yet?

I sit in the sand for a while just listening to the waves. I swear I can hear a baby giggle. Its sweet music brings tears to my eyes as it's gone on the waves. Finally, I get up to walk around, my patience can't just sit still, and I see movement out on the end of the pier. I climb the stairs and walk through the metal gates. The pier is old and worn. I'm surprised it even is still standing when so many other things are not. I pass benches and trash cans I'm getting closer to the little shop that's in the middle. I stop there and stare. There's a man standing at the end of the pier looking out. A man with brown hair and broad shoulders that I would know anywhere. I freeze. My heart is pounding, and I want to scream and run to him, but I need a moment to believe what I'm seeing.

Turn around. Just please turn around I scream to myself. I didn't even realize I was starting to sob. The sound must have traveled, because as I look back, he's slowly turning towards me, and there in his arms is the sweetest little boy you will ever see. They both are here! They both are okay! And I run.