The Girl with the Green Eyes

Tick… Tick… Tick… Tick.

A large, handsome Grandfather clock ticks the time forward. A moot point in my opinion. The need for keeping time is long gone. The world is baron, crops have all but died and potable water is becoming increasingly rare. I survived this long…I’ll never know how. Maybe I’m just too stubborn to die, or maybe I was left behind by whatever God let all this happen, or maybe I just slipped past his gaze.

Mama was a religious woman. She would always say,

“God will punish the sinners, Mira. Remember reading how the world was during Noah’s time? He will punish us again!”

I smile at the memory, which quickly switches to a frown as I focus on the task at hand. I feel the rubble at my feet as I make my way through the crumbling large house. “Please have cans, please have cans.” I mumble to myself as I enter what used to be a kitchen. Looking around, seeing the fridge and ignoring it. I only made that mistake once before. I immediately spot a bag of chips and my stomach growls loudly. I grab it from the counter.

“Dammit!”

I let out a shriek as, to my surprise, the open bag spilled not with chips but rather giant hissing cockroaches. Out of reflex, I jump back in disgust. Regaining my composure, I start rummaging through cabinets---

“Holy shit!” I say holding the holy grail in my hands, a sealed jar of Costco sized peanut butter.

I wish I found more, but it seems the people who owned this house didn’t go shopping before The Quick Death came. A violent form of Scarlet Fever that came back with force. Most people died within two days of contracting the disease. Red patches covering their bodies and fevers reaching 107 degrees. Within three months, over eighty percent of the world’s population was gone. Mama lasted longer than most. Four days of me trying to contain her fever, but it was all for not. She died in her sleep. At least she’s not in pain anymore, but I sure do miss her company.

I find myself standing at the base of what was once a grand staircase, thick dust covered pictures of the family ascending it. Cautiously making my way up, listening to every footfall and feeling for stability; letting out a sigh of relief as I make it to the second level. Making my way through the rooms, rummaging through the closets I found some clothes roughly my size, maybe a size to big. I pull off the torn tank top and jean shorts I’d been sporting for a few weeks now and leave them right where I stood. I would have killed for a pair of clean underwear. I put on the blue sweatpants, pulling the drawstrings as much as I could. When I shove my head through the grey t-shirt, a quick flash startles me. Dashing away, I look around the room frantically.

A small piece of jewelry on a nightstand near the window reflects light. Picking it up, I realize it’s a necklace. A small gold heart-shaped pendant with a gold chain. After inspecting it closely, I realize it’s a locket. I try to open it, but it seems stuck together. Frustrated, I pull hard almost bending my fingernail backwards until I hear a ‘click’. I look down and two faces meet my gaze. A young woman, probably around my age and a very young girl. The woman’s smile was warm and caring and the little girl had sparkling green eyes, not so different from my own. A familiar feeling of sorrow fills me knowing the beautiful family who resided in this house are long dead. I decide to keep the small token and place it in my pocket. I pick up my backpack with the peanut butter and a light jacket I found and slowly retrace my steps back down the worn grand staircase. I give the house a quick once over before heading outside and moving on.

Thankfully, the sun is covered today, grey clouds blanket the sky, and it looks like it could pour at any moment. I look back at the house I was just in and wonder if anyone else could still be alive. Surely, I can’t be the only one. I pat my pocket and feel the small locket. Pulling it out, I look at the picture once more. The green-eyed girl looks at the camera with a wry smile. I wonder how old she was. She looked to be about five or six, that would make her around ten now? I feel my eyes welling up and force it back down.

“Come on Mir, crying will just slow you down.”

The voice that came from my mouth sounds like a croak. I rarely speak out loud. No point when there is nobody to hear you, although I do catch myself whispering, it makes me feel crazy. Maybe I am.

A deer leaps over a car, startling me out of my thoughts. I look around and notice I am no longer in the same neighborhood where I found my small treasure. It started to drizzle. Trees surround me and I can hear birds loudly chirping. I find the sun setting in front of me, which means I’m heading west. A ruffling sound in a bush behind me along with the area going silent sets my nerves on edge. I face the direction from which the sound came. A small, brown cub walked out. In all honesty, it’s adorable. However, if life has taught me anything, the mother bear isn’t far behind. I slowly back away, never taking my eye off the baby bear. After I create some distance, I turn away from the animal, heading through the wooded area with haste.

Luckily the moon was bright enough tonight I could see the way through the woods. After a few hours of traveling, I stumble onto a small town. It’s time to stop for the night. I need sleep, and if I don’t eat soon, I’m going to pass out. The rain is starting to come down heavier now. A house that has an intact roof will be the perfect resting place tonight. I go to open the door and-

“Of course.” I sigh. “Locked.”

I set down my backpack, unzip it and pull out the jacket I had taken. I wrapped it around arm and walk up to the nearest window. With all that I have, I use my elbow protected by the fabric to smash the window. I feel the glass shatter beneath the force. Once I clear enough to unlatch the window, I slide it open and brush the shards off the sill before climbing through. The last thing I need is an infection from being impatient.

Just as I hit the floor, I hear thunder. Lightning flashes across the night sky and I settle into my home for the night. I’m happy to see a small fireplace, and even happier to see dried logs. I always carry my mother’s lighter with me, just rarely have a chance to use it. After about ten minutes, a roaring fire is now in front of me. I yank the peanut butter from my backpack and use my fingers to shove small scoops in my mouth and moan with satisfaction. I find myself slipping into sleep as I eat. I screw the lid on, stuff it into my sack and zip it back up. I lay down and slip into dreams of a young girl with vibrant green eyes.

I awaken realizing I slept through the night, still having my hunger satiated. It’s been long time since that’s happened. I yawn and stretch hard. Dim light breaks through the window curtains. Collecting myself and my stuff I check the usual spots and get lucky finding a bottle of Tylenol with about a dozen or so pills. I take 2 and throw my backpack over my right shoulder then slip my left arm through the other side and continue my trek to find out if I am truly alone.

The rain has let up quite a bit, but there are more clouds than blue sky that I can see. I get my bearings and continue heading West. The occasional small water droplet smacks my face along with the heavy misting. Seconds later, I’m flat on my face. A small root to a tree stuck out of the ground, probably exposed from the rain. Becoming increasingly frustrated, I stop and scream. A sound full of rage and agony.

“Whyyy?!” I cry out. “Why was I left here? My mother did everything right and you still took her!” I could hear my voice tear, but I continue to scream.

“Why do you hate me?!” My face now more wet with tears than rain.

CRACK-BOOM

The sound of thunder following lightning hitting a tree cuts through my sobbing and brings my attention to the billowing smoke about a hundred yards out. Pulling myself to my feet, I quickly make my way towards what must be the beginnings of a forest fire.

About 20 feet away from the fire that is slowly growing, I hear something.

“Good thing we caught this before it could spread further.” A mans voice came weaving in between the trees.

I stop dead. It’s finally happened, I’ve begun to hallucinate. Gradually, I take one step at a time closer to the diminishing smoke. I peak from behind a tree and see two people. An older man, grey hair and a long white beard and a young girl, around the age of ten with bright green eyes.

I watch as they continue to pour water on the fire until the rain picks up for just a few seconds to put out the last of it. Still behind the tree, I watch the old man get a wide smile.

“Sarah, I think we’re done here. Let’s get back before everyone starts to worry.”

Sarah twirls around and smiles a familiar smile. As I watch her another face comes to mind, that of a young girl and her mother. I reach in my pocket and pull the locket once more. No doubt about it, that’s her. I watch as Sarah grabs the man’s hand, and they start to walk away. I try to say something, but no sound leaves me. Sarah, as if she could her my inaudible cry, turns those green eyes on me. Squeezing the old man’s hand she says,

“Papa, look. A woman.”

The old mans head whipped around and met my eyes. I saw shock, then concern. He rushed over towards me. All I could do was watch him. It felt like a dream as he put my arm over his shoulder and started walking me somewhere.

The man introduced himself as Noah. Noah had taken Sarah in when his daughter had died. She passed early in the days of The Quick Death. He had taken her to his farm where they tried to wait out the disease, only it never seemed to pass. As time went on, people started showing up. Noah welcomed everyone who showed. Working together, they formed a community they called “Sanctuary”.

I turn towards Sarah,

“My name is Mira,” I present the locket to her. “I found this. I believe it’s yours.”

Sarah’s smile was so kind and grateful. She rushed to hug me, the first form of affection in so long. Her big, green eyes met mine. I hug her back.

“Here we are.” Noah pointed towards what can only be described as paradise. Thirty or so men, woman and children running around, playing and doing chores.

“Welcome home Mira.”

Tears were streaming down my face again…from relief and for all that was found, instead of sorrow for all that has been lost,

“Welcome home.” Noah’s words ringing in my ears, knowing it was the truth. I had found home.