Oh, Arthur

After the sounds of roaring thunder had waned, Mary woke up below a heap of rubbles. How long had she been passed out? She hurt all over her body; she placed her hand on her chest. There was a burning. She looked down; the heart-shaped locket her younger brother had given her for her birthday was stuck in her chest, right above her heart.

Her brother… where was he? What had happened to him? The last thing she remembered was his charming smile and big brown eyes before the blast separated them. She stood up and brushed off the debris. She looked around frantically, but she saw nobody. Where was everybody? The roof was gone, and the night sky was clear; there were no stars, only a bright, oversized moon.

It had been in the news for weeks that the moon had left its orbital axis and was heading for Earth; nobody had paid much heed to it. Neither when the waters had risen, and all of the birds and insects seemed to have disappeared. Sharks had been swimming in the rivers that had now been engulfed with the oceans. Mary was clever, the brightest in her class. But all of her teachers and her grandmother had refused to talk about it. Mary had watched the news, and she knew something terrible was happening. The Earth’s magnetism was drawing the moon closer, and it seemed it was a matter of hours now before the moon would collide with Earth.

Suddenly, Tivali, one of those sphinx cats she and her brother had adopted a few years ago, came over, nuzzling her head up against Mary’s leg. Tivali, she exclaimed with relief. Tivali, where is Arthur? Help me find him. Tivali didn’t miss a beat, and she carefully walked over the collapsed building debris, and there, buried below a pile of books and wooden shelves, Tivali tugged on the sleeve of Arthur. Mary spotted her brother’s tiny hand. In his hand, he held the small key that fits into the heart-shaped locket he had just given her. He had saved up for months to buy it for her. Oh, Arthur. He, and only he, had the key to her heart.

ARTHUR, she screamed as she ran over and kneeled down next to him, carefully removing the bookshelf and throwing all of the books aside. She uncovered his face. His eyes were closed. Arthur, please be alive, she said while her tears were streaming down. Oh, Arthur. She felt his cheeks. They were warm. Is he alive? She dug him free of the rest of the books. He slowly opened his eyes, but he was weak, and his pupils were enlarged despite the intense light hitting his face from the moon right above them. Mary, my sister, you found me. I knew you would, he said in his weak voice. She picked him up and hugged him tightly. His arms were not reaching around her. Had he been paralyzed? She asked him if he could sit upright. Can you move your arms and legs? It seemed like he tried, but nothing happened. He stayed flat on the ground. He turned his head slightly. What happened? he asked, where is grandmother?

Mary was turning 12 today, and they were celebrating her birthday. Their grandmother had been in the kitchen preparing the cake. Mary ran over to where the kitchen used to be. She found her grandmother dead, with her skin darkened. Her blood seemed to have had been oozing from every poorer in the skin, now slowly drying. The iron in her blood must have caused her blood cells to vaporize, killing her fast. Mary felt her own blood freeze as she closed the eyes of her grandmother and kissed her on her forehead. Goodnight grandmother.

Mary went back over to Arthur; she had to get them out of there. The moon was getting closer; she had to get them to a safe place. Mary managed to get her six-year-old brother onto her back and carried him away from the house. Oh, Arthur. It will be ok. We just have to get over to the oak tree on the small hilltop, and grandmother will come and find us. Can you hang on to me? She asked, hoping to hear his voice. His head barely moved, but he made a gesture that indicated he was trying to nod. Good; I will carry you there. Do not worry, we will be safe soon. His body made no movement, and she clanged onto his arms.

With Arthur on her back and Tivali by her feet, Mary set off for what seemed like an endless journey. She saw nobody in the street, and there was complete silence. All of the neighboring houses had collapsed as well, and the moon already seemed bigger than before. If only she could get to the big oak tree. She was afraid, which was an unusual feeling - she was never afraid – life had taught her otherwise. After the death of her parents, she knew she had to take care of her brother - she knew she had to be strong.

Mary thought of all the good memories she had with her brother as she made her way towards the hilltop. She remembered how she and Arthur had been playing in the field by the oak. He had gotten a wooden airplane for his birthday, which they had played with all day until their grandmother had come to get them as it was getting dark, and dinner was ready. Their grandmother had hugged them tight, kissed them on their forehead, and held their hands as they walked back to the house together.

Mary was exhausted by the time she reached the small hilltop. She hoped that she and Arthur would be safe now. Maybe she could find something to drink and eat. Her mouth was dry. Arthur’s body felt almost lifeless on her back. She needed to find a doctor. Anybody. Somebody must be out there and able to help them. Mary reached the oak tree on top of the hill. She carefully placed Arthur up against the tree. He tried to smile at her and asked when grandmother would join them. Mary lied while the tears once again came streaming down her cheeks: any minute now, don’t worry, we will see her soon.

Mary leaned up against the tree with her brother in her arms and the cat on his lap. She touched the heart-shaped locket on her chest. It wasn’t painful anymore. Together they stared at the moon as it approached Earth. It was beautiful, and suddenly she wasn’t afraid anymore. Her brother had stopped breathing, and she held him tight. The light from the moon was almost blinding her. It was peaceful.

Was that her grandmother she saw now walking towards them? Grandmother? Mary called out. Oh, it was her. It really was. She had found them. She knew she would, just like she used to. Her grandmother came over, and her brother opened his eyes and stood up. They each took one of their grandmother’s hands. They better get home now; the roaring thunder had started again. Their grandmother kissed them on their forehead as she had done so many times before, and they began their walk together, towards the light.