Love Eternal

Lisa was driving her rig through the tight tunnels, doing another supply run between bases. Currently she was somewhere between Atlanta and Jackson Mississippi, carrying supplies for the survivors and security personnel at Camp Indigo. Lisa had not always been a Truck Driver, but after the world went to hell, she had to adapt or die. Lisa made the decision to drive a truck; her alternative option would have been drafted into the security forces. The truck rolled over a cattle gate, it jolted her to attention, it meant she was nearing another checkpoint. She placed her hand on her chest, to hold onto the Heart Shaped locket that she wore everywhere she went.

Her wife gave it to her on the day they were married. The back of the locket had a Heart painted on it, half the heart was Red, and the other half was the Transgender Pride flag. When you opened it, it contained a picture of her wife Alyssa on their wedding day, and a picture of Lisa’s Parents, who died during the events that unfolded that caused them to be in this situation.

She held it to her lips and kissed it, and said aloud, I will be home soon babe…be home soon. Just need to make it to this checkpoint.

She slowed the rig, the heavily armed guard approached the truck, and she took the safety off the Magnum handgun she carried for protection. Engraved on the handle said, “Return home safe policy”. The sentry, whom she came to know as Becca, waved her to a stop. Lisa handed her transport papers to Becca, a scan of the truck was done to ensure that no one else was onboard.

Becca stamped the papers, handed them back, and wished Lisa a safe trip. Small talk was kept to the strictest minimums.

The air brakes released, Lisa was back on her way.

Later that day she arrived in Jackson, put her gas mask and protective equipment on, and stepped out of her truck. The air in the tunnels is safe, but since World War 4, the air on the surface was a mix of radiation, Carbon Dioxide, biological contaminants, and a heavy dash of Covid30.

She knew she should go to the bunks and sleep, but she could not sleep until she saw her wifey pull in, and she knew she was safe, then she could sleep…in her arms for the first time in a week.

Alyssa was coming to Jackson from the opposite direction, she was giddy as every mile that went by, was a mile closer to her seeing her baby. She kissed the locket that hung from her neck. The usual guard approached with guns drawn, Alyssa was instantly put on edge. They were demanding where she was going and she said topside to Jackson to do a delivery, they all looked at each other and said, Alyssa, that camp isn’t there. Alyssa was puzzled, of course, it was, she was meeting Lisa there, she looked confused, and pointed, and said I turn there and go topside. The guards looked at her and said, park your truck, get your topside gear, and come with us, Rio will stay behind to guard your truck.

She donned the gas mask, the protective suit with attached hands and feet. The guards helped her seal the seams, Alyssa grabbed her gun, the guards smiled, she carried a 357 Magnum, what a gun one of the guards said, ya, my wife has the other one. She showed the stock to the guards. She never saw the worried look that was passed between them.

They walked up the ramp, moments later the group was outside, since the war, the sky was Blood Red, due to the atmosphere being on fire. She stopped, where is Camp Indigo? The guards turned your standing on it they said. We can’t stay here for long, in case they come back. Wait Alyssa started to scream, Lisa was supposed to arrive before me, what is her rig number the head guard asked. Alyssa blurted out T45WF445. The guards started to relay to check her status. Alyssa was frantically looking to make sure she didn’t see any signs of Lisa.

The guards approached her, they looked worried, and there was no hiding it now. Alyssa, we just found out that Lisa arrived 5 minutes before the attack. She was parked about where you are standing. Alyssa dropped to the ground sobbing. However, she knew that Lisa was strong and she would have survived, are you sure she stammered. Yes, we are sure, she parked the truck and plugged it in to charge. As the guards turned there was a metal on rock scraping sound. What the…The guards looked down, wow, look at this one of them said, I have never seen anything survive an attack especially something metal. The weapons they use, specifically destroys metal and flesh, why Metal? Because without metal we cannot build new products. This is beautiful, it’s a heart shaped locket. They heard Alyssa scream, and she came over, with hands shaking, can I see, she stammered. Why? The guard asked. Lisa and I have matching lockets. She moved her arm in the protective suit and held up her locket. Her hands were shaking, and the guard placed it in her hand. She turned it over, it was blackened but she could just make out the Blue and Pink of the transgender pride flag.

Alyssa, fell to the ground, the guards approached but Mark held them back, give her some time, she just lost her wife okay. The guards backed up and kept watch over her, while she wept.

To the guards…it sounded like she was talking to herself, they assumed she was doing a prayer or something, so they moved a bit farther away to give her space.

Alyssa started feeling the heat from the burnt ground-penetrating her gear, she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned expecting to see the guard, but there was no one around her, she then felt a hand rubbing her back, but she didn’t see anyone…she figured she was starting to hallucinate, then, the back rub continued except she felt both of her upper arms squeezed, she looked up, and quietly said, L…Li….Lissssssa…are you here? She felt a squeeze on her right arm. They play a game where they are blindfolded and asked yes or no questions, and all they can do is squeeze right for Yes, Left for no.

Are you dead? Alyssa asked.

Left squeeze…

WHAT she stammered….

Are you going to haunt me forever as you always teased? Hard Right squeeze.

Did you suffer...in the end? Multiple left squeezes.

Will you always look over me? Right Squeeze.

Where is your body? Both sides were squeezed, which was the answer for Maybe or No idea.

Then, she felt something brushing her lips. Alyssa felt her left hand move, and her fingers spread in the telltale way that Lisa always held her hand. Never just a handhold, but she always intertwined her fingers with yours.

Alyssa got up and said well Babe, we better get our asses in gear, her hand got squeezed. You're super strong for a ghost. She was sure Lisa punched her arm.

She walked towards the guards. Thanks, she said, Yes Ma’am your welcome Ma’am came the responses, we are sorry for your loss, Mark said, he was the group's leader. Thanks, Lisa says she died quickly and didn’t suffer. All of the guards looked shocked. She smiled. Don’t worry, I am fine. Let's get out of here.

10-4 Ma’am. The group retreated back into the tunnel, the door behind them was closed, and marked as baron land. There was a good chance Depot Indigo would never be rebuilt.

The group stripped out of their gear, washed it, and repacked it for the next use.

Alyssa climbed back in her truck she noticed that the passenger seat had a visible butt impression in it. Ready to go she said? There was a single knock from the passenger window. Understood she said with an ear-to-ear smile and just a faint tear. She saw a tissue float towards her, okay Babe, that is freaking me out…but, I could get used to it, she smiled.

The Brakes hissed, and the truck started to roll. We will be Okay, Alyssa said. No one heard the single knock on the window as the truck rumbled on.