The Trip to Safety

I miss sunscreen, I haven't been able to get any since last year. I decided to wear a long sleeve light shirt and jeans, at least most of my body would be protected from sunburn. I am so pale and I always get sunburn in the summer. My locket is under my shirt, beside Sarah, my daughter, it's all I have. It was given to me from my grandma, and was given to her by her grandma. It looks silver and is shaped like a heart. The locket has a heart carved in the center. There was writing engraved along the border of the locket but I can't read it because it is so old. It always feels cool, even in the hot July weather. It was passed on to me because I was the only one in my family to have a daughter. It is a tradition to pass it on though the females my family. It helps to have it with me. These days we live in, sadness seems to be everywhere.

The e-virus spread so rapidly throughout the county it shocked many people. The government had not supported the scientific community when there was a recommendation of lockdowns and wearing masks. A major pandemic had not hit the U.S in over a hundred years. People were unaccustomed to the adjustments that were required to survive. Rumors and lies were all over social media. Many people thought it was only a cold and everyone would get it, then we would all be well again. It did not happen that way. The virus attacked anyone with a health problem. Those with diabetes, obesity and heart problems were the first of those to die at alarming rates. People still would not protect themselves. Many said their rights were being oppressed and refused to wear a mask. Others thought it was some underground organization trying to make us all submit to their purpose. They thought it was all fake, until they lay in a hospital bed dying.

The e-virus started to go airborne and millions of people became infected at an even faster rate. It was difficult even for medical professionals not to get infected. At first the grocery stores were able to keep food on the shelves. Then, as people became sick and many died, the supply chain broke down. Tractor trailers full of food would be left on highways because drivers died while in transit. People began raiding these trucks and then began looting any store that had food. Those who grew food and knew how to hunt did better but now had to be constantly armed for fear of losing what they had left. I learned how to hunt rabbits from the farmer who lived up the road. Every other day we went to help him do the work he needed done around his house, in return he would give us vegetables and whatever else he had in the way of food. My daughter Sarah and I manage to eat but it's getting harder. We are alone here. My husband died 5 years before it all began and the virus took my older brother last year. His diabetes made him even more vulnerable. I rented a little house with my older brother and my daughter. Since the landlord and his family had died in the pandemic no one came to the house or spoke to me about it in over a year so I decided I would live there as long as I could get away with it.

The Internet and the phone lines had been out for months. It seems there are not enough workers out there to maintain these services in every location. When we go to town there is no one in the streets or any of the shops.

I hope to get to Pennsylvania, to see my sister. I'm not sure if she is alive but it was the best plan I have so far. She owns a house and garden that she plants every year. If they are alive maybe we could stay with them, my brother in law hunts and so does their son. I could help them and they could help me. My brother gave me a pistol before he died. It is not too big and I can use it fairly well. I also have a hunting knife, both will be necessary on this trip. I don't expect to make it there without any trouble. People were looting, robbing and assaulting each other all the time. The pressure to maintain life was growing everyday. I am alone with a young child to protect, I have to be very careful. If I have to, I will fight.

The trip to Pennsylvania would take 3 days on foot. There is no way to get enough gas in the area to make a trip like that. Most public transportation is impossible to use safely. If you don't get infected you would most likely be robbed or worse. I will follow rt 301 to Elkton. That would get us to the most northern part of Maryland. Then we travel through the woods until we reach Mercersburg. We can't get too close to the roads though. It is best to avoid people as much as possible. Even with weapons we should avoid any possible confrontations.

Day 1

We woke up the next morning and the sun was starting to rise. I finished packing the last of what they could take. I hope we can find enough to eat along the way. It is impossible to carry everything we need in the way of food. I decided on some potatoes, cans of soup, canned pasta and beans. That should help feed us if we do not find anything else to eat.

We walked until evening came. The small tent that I packed was good enough to keep any rain away. I set up the tent and two sleeping bags, one adult, one child. It made for a tight fit but that was fine, we should stay close together. I managed to start a fire with a collection of matches I had taken from various places. I heated a can of chicken noodle soup. We shared the soup and some saltines that were packed. After eating we settled down into the sleeping bags. Sarah seemed so sad . I told her stories and sang to her until she finally fell asleep. It was asleep soon after.

Day 2

The next day after a breakfast of apple cinnamon cereal bars we had to get moving again. That day we saw many more people from a distance. We didn't get too close and kept walking.

That night there were a lot of people in the woods. There was no moonlight and it was so difficult to see I became very worried but there was nothing that could be done. Darkness was setting in, we had to make camp. I was warm so we slept out of the tent on the ground. I was on one side of the fire and Sarah on the other side. I woke up later that night. There was a man standing in the dark; I could not see his features, only the man's outline.

He was tall and rather wide, fear started to race through me. He was looking over Sarah. I finally spoke up, "Hey, get away from her!"

I heard the man say, ”I'm not gonna bother you, got any food?”

“No I don't!”

“Give me some food or I'll take her with me.”

The gun was in my back pocket. He started walking toward me so I pulled the gun out as quickly as I could" Stay away from us!”

I pulled the trigger, the man fell on me , he was so heavy and I was desperate to get free. I felt something warm, it was the locket. It glowed like a sunset yet it did not burn. A feeling of protection came over me. Choking sounds started coming from the man. I pushed him off and got to my feet. I hurried over to Sarah, we both held each other tightly. The glowing from the locket became larger. Sweeping out and around it formed a wall that surrounded us on both sides. It felt like a warm breeze. It held us safe and I knew nothing would harm us. The man was freed from his choking fit and finally got to his feet. He stood amazed at the golden barrier that stood before him. Sarah and I stood on the other side just as dumbfounded. Once the man recovered he ran into the woods. I started a new fire. Sarah stayed close to me and slept with her head in my lap. I sat up against a tree until I could sleep again. I have never seen anything so amazing.

Day 3

The next morning the weather was milder. The humidity seemed to fade. We were ten miles from my sisters house by the time the sun was fully risen in the sky. The locket was next to my skin. It felt cool, and I felt content. By noon I could see my sister's house. It was not damaged, and I saw people outside. Then I recognized my brother-in-law. He stood still for a minute then moved quickly into the house. By the time Sarah and I got to the house my sister was waiting for us. We had made it to safety.