by G H Edwards
When she had finished, she noticed the floor of the shower had turned an off-brown color and a pile of wet leaves was blocking the drain. She quickly cleaned it up as best she could. She dried her hair and happily put on a pair of shorts and a blue T-Shirt that said, “Kendall University Mighty Mice” printed in white with a comically fit mouse beneath it. Claire examined herself in the foggy mirror and finally recognized the reflection. Other than the tan and loss of weight, she looked like herself again, but she didn’t feel the same. She felt much older, and also much sadder, like she had a dark cloud over her. Looking at herself, she attempted to smile but found she couldn’t muster her muscles to do it. After examining herself for long time, she saw someone who was wounded and full of guilt—someone who might never be happy again. She thought about the woman who had taken her in and decided she needed to at least look happy for her. With forced effort, she raised her eyebrows and the corners of her mouth and left the bathroom.
Walking into the living room, Claire smelled a scented candle that Rebecca had lit. The room was illuminated by a soft light, and two cups of warm liquid and some crackers were laid out on the table. Rebecca sat on the pillow filled gray couch. The scene put Claire at ease, and she felt gratitude toward her new friend. Claire sat next to Rebecca, thanked her for her hospitality, and swore she would pay her back somehow. Rebecca sat in stunned silence as Claire went on.
Finally, Claire asked, “What’s wrong?”
“You’re a completely different person. When you walked out, I thought someone else had snuck in somehow.”
“Yeah, I didn’t even recognize myself,” Claire said with a laugh. “Thank you for the clothes. They’re very comfortable.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. You can keep them. I want to hear your story,” Rebecca said, handing Claire a chocolate-covered cookie.
Claire didn’t know where to begin. She started talking about how they had driven Ol’ Blue, and soon the story poured out. She told her about the Tim and Jenny and little Judy. She talked about the bridges and the roads and the long nights trying to sleep. Then she got to her husband’s death. She’d wanted to push it back, but tears came flowing out. Rebecca was soon crying and hugging her. Claire didn’t know how long they sat like that, but it felt nice to be held by someone. Finally, after Claire had soaked Rebecca’s shoulder, she sat up and said she was sorry.
“No, I’m sorry, Claire. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Claire wiped her face with some tissues Rebecca had provided. “I’m really sorry to ask, but what did Michael die from?”
Claire almost had forgotten the entire reason for this trip. She sat up straight and looked Rebecca straight in the eyes, ready to read her reaction. “My husband died of gerivirus.”
Rebecca’s expression was blank; then slowly creases formed on her forehead and a confused look took over her face. “How did he die from gerivirus?”
“You’ve heard of it! Good. Wait, what do you mean? Because he was so young or because you guys have the cure?”
There was a long moment before Rebecca quietly said, “I don’t really know how to say this, but I haven’t heard of anyone dying from gerivirus since I was a kid.”
CHAPTER 33
Claire had never felt so shocked in her life. For as long as she could remember, gerivirus was a part of life and something that was as common and as feared as cancer. The idea that someone her age hadn’t heard of anyone dying from it in years was stupefying. Flustered, she insisted they look it up in a book or on the Internet. Maybe there was some other explanation. Rebecca reached under the coffee table and retrieved her laptop.
After the machine booted up, Rebecca accessed the Internet. Claire had never heard of any of the sites Rebecca was using. She hadn’t even heard of the platform Rebecca was using to get on the Internet. Claire took the computer and attempted to pull up the sites she was familiar with but found that none of them existed. Pulling up a preloaded search engine, she typed in “High Island Wildcats,” her favorite football team, but found nothing about it. Dumbfounded, Claire typed “gerivirus” into the search engine. A page that had “MD” in the title popped up, and Claire clicked on it. Brushing past ads for products she hadn’t heard of, she found the description:
Geridisease: an autoimmune disease that generally strikes older adults. It formally was the number-one killer of people over age sixty-five until the cure was discovered. The cure remains one of the greatest successes in modern medical history. The disease is believed to have been created by Mega City Chicago to eliminate its aging population and thereby save the local government money spent on healthcare.
Claire was stunned. She reread the paragraph several times to ensure what she was seeing was correct. As she looked at the word “cure” in black-and-white, she felt a switch being flipped deep in her body. All the sadness, regret, and heartache she had felt over Michael’s death suddenly transformed into a barely contained rage.
“Is this a good site?” Claire asked in a near growl.
“Yes. It usually tells you that you have cancer for every symptom you enter. It looks like you found the only thing that has ever been cured,” Rebecca joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Claire fell backward on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. She wanted to smash the laptop and everything she could get her hands on. She wanted to scream so loud it would knock over every building in the city. She’d never felt anything like this before. Every one of her muscles tightened, and her face turned a deep red. When her rage subsided slightly, she heard her host shift uncomfortably on the couch next to her. Claire forced herself to calm down. She imagined a small box deep inside her where she stuffed all the fury. She’d hold it there, smoldering, knowing it would come in handy someday soon. As her temperature dropped to normal, she began to think.
“How is it possible that thousands of people are dying every year in Houston due to a virus that has a cure in a different city?” Claire asked. “How is it that your Internet is different in every way than my Internet? How is it—from what I’ve seen—that Miami isn’t anything like I was taught it was? How is it the people between the cities aren’t anything like I was taught they were? Is everything I’ve ever known a lie?”
“Your husband wasn’t a lie,” Rebecca said. “Your love wasn’t a lie. You aren’t a lie. I don’t know what’s going on here, but whatever is happening to you could be happening to me also, and I want to help find out the answers.”
CHAPTER 34
Claire and Rebecca sat up for another three hours discussing what they should do next before they retired to bed. Rebecca had set up a nice bed for Claire on the couch with pillows and a blanket. Claire curled up and fell asleep almost instantly.
The next morning, she awoke to the sizzling of bacon. She performed a long stretch and sat up to see Rebecca working hard in the small kitchen. A wave a gratitude filled Claire. Rebecca had been not only a great host but also a sounding board and even a shoulder to cry on. Claire added her to the growing list of people who selflessly were carrying her to safety.
Rebecca had made her usual breakfast of eggs and bacon, but for the first time in a long time, she made it for two. They both sat on high stools that were pushed up to the counter and enjoyed their breakfast. Claire thanked Rebecca again for her hospitality.
“I didn’t sleep much last night,” Rebecca said between bites, “so I went through my contact list to find anyone who could help us.”
Claire nodded and smiled when Rebecca said “us.” Claire was devouring her food; she hadn’t realized she was still so hungry. As she was cleaning her plate she said, “It might sound strange, but I think we need to be careful who we talk to. I don’t know why, but I feel like it needs to be someone we know we can trust. Maybe I’ve just watched to much TV.”
“No, I agree with you, and one name popped up that sounds perfect to me. But I haven’t talked to him in a long time.”
“Okay,” Claire said, “if you think he’s trustworthy”
“Yes, he i
s. He was one of my professors from the year I spent in college.”
Sensing there was something to the story Claire joked, “Sounds scandalous…”
“Well, it was,” Rebecca said with a laugh. “We were involved with each other, but we broke it off. He could have lost his job. He teaches economics and used to lead several student clubs before he had to give them up.”
“Why did he have to give them up? Because he dated his students?” Claire said, and immediately regretted it.
“No, he was almost fired because one of his clubs got a little out of hand.”
Claire’s eyebrows rose in interest.
“It was the environmental club. The club got word that the mayor’s office passed a plan to bulldoze a park near city hall. They said it was for community planning,” Rebecca said, adding extra sarcasm to make her point. “But we knew the real reason they wanted to get rid of the park was because there were always lots of birds there and they pooped all over the cars. Well, what do you think the birds were going to do when they got rid of most of the other parks?” Rebecca said passionately. Claire hadn’t seen this side of Rebecca before, and it made her proud. “Anyway, getting tired of the usual protests, the club took matters into their own hands, or should I say ‘bags.’ We all went down there and pooped in some paper bags. We ran in and covered all those bureaucrats’ cars with it and ran off.” Rebecca laughed at the memory, and Claire laughed in shock.
“You said ‘we,’ so you were involved?”
“Yeah. I was kind of a ringleader. When we were caught everyone turned on everyone, and I got kicked out of school.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay. The worst part was that Ben got caught up in it.”
“Who is Ben?”
“Oh, he’s the professor I was telling you about,” Rebecca said. “It was actually his idea, and he helped us plan it. When everyone started snitching, his name was brought up a lot. He was on the verge of getting fired, but I took the fall for everything. I figured I was going down anyway, so I might as well take it all. So Ben and I had to break up because there was so much heat on him. It sounds so stupid now, but at the time it was really important.”
“Well, aren’t you two cute together?” Claire said with a smile, “Star-crossed lovers that were forced apart, like Romeo and Juliet.”
“Except with more poop.” They both laughed.
“Are you sure it won’t be weird meeting up with him again?”
“No, it should be okay,” Rebecca said. “I’ve been thinking a lot about him recently, and this will be a good excuse to call him. Plus, the way I figure it, he owes me big time.”
Claire thought he sounded perfect.
CHAPTER 35
With all the talking the night prior, Claire had forgotten to try to wash her clothes. They were filthy and needed a wash. Rebecca understood this and kindly let Claire borrow a nicer set of clothes to meet Ben. Similarly dressed in long flowing white skirts and tank tops, they set off down the elevator and through the lobby. Claire saw herself in the mirror on the way out. She wasn’t used to seeing her tanned face and felt like a different person. As she wondered what Michael would say if he saw her, a wave of sadness crashed over her.
They opened the glass door of the lobby Claire had used the night before. She was nervous heading out into Miami, even though she was convinced the stories she’d heard weren’t true. It was hot and sunny as they walked to the nearby covered bus stop. As Claire looked up at the imposing towers that loomed over her, she felt like an ant walking into a weed garden.
While they waited for a bus, they talked nonstop; Claire felt a real connection with Rebecca and was thankful for her. When the sleek-looking bus pulled up, Rebecca jumped on board. Claire was beginning to follow her when she stopped in her tracks. Rebecca was already halfway down the aisle when she turned back and saw that Claire was staring in shock at the empty driver’s seat. Rebecca walked back and asked Claire if she was all right.
“Where’s the driver?” Claire asked in shock.
“There aren’t any drivers on busses. There haven’t been for a few years now.”
“Wow.” Claire walked past the empty seat and joined Rebecca in a seat near the back.
They were the only passengers as the bus submerged into the deep shadows of the huge skyscrapers. Soon they were surrounded on all sides by massive buildings, and Claire began to feel at home. Being deep inside the city, cooled by the artificial shadows, reminded her of Houston.
Rebecca had told her the college campus was on the south side of town and the trip would take a couple of hours, but Claire didn’t mind. She enjoyed the familiar feeling of being driven instead of driving, even if there was no actual driver. As they drove along, Claire became more impressed by the buildings and layout of the city.
Houston was laid out in a giant grid that ran for miles in all directions, but Miami wasn’t like that. It had curves and stops that gave the city a homier feel, like each new area was a completely different city. In Houston there were miles of blocks that all looked identical, but in Miami nearly every building looked different—all still incredibly tall but more artistic. They stopped often at open-air bus stops, and the seats quickly filled. Claire watched the passengers come on board; everyone was dress much more casually than in Houston.
Rebecca sat next to her, quietly pointing out important landmarks throughout the city. They spoke in near whispers while they were on the bus. It wasn’t something they had discussed, but they both felt they were doing something almost illegal. Claire felt like she could have easily been on a bus in Houston with a new friend. They had to switch busses a few times, and Claire enjoyed the breaks between by looking in store windows.
Just like in Houston there were few cars, mostly busses or taxis. Busses and people wove in and out of each other on the streets, which were in a near constant shadow that could only be felt when you were deep in the belly of a massive city. Claire noticed there were many outdoor restaurants and bars and people filling them. She asked what day it was and was surprised to hear it was Wednesday. Claire could sense the city had a much more relaxed and party-type atmosphere. She shook her head in amazement that for as long as she could remember, she had heard that Miami was a war zone. But now she was seeing the place firsthand; there were no police officers in the streets breaking up constant riots or people murdering each other on every corner, which was common to hear about on the Houston news channels. The only downside that Claire spotted was when the bus stopped at an intersection she got a clear view down an alley and saw dozens of homeless people living in squalor.
They crisscrossed the city and eventually reached a section where the buildings became shorter and shorter. Soon they arrived at a large section of the town that had only short, squat brick buildings. The streets and sidewalks were replaced by grass and a small lake with a fountain in the middle. Young people milled about, lying on the grass, sitting on the benches, tossing various balls around. Next to the rolling lawn was a sign that said, kendall university. They departed the bus and walked across the grass lawn toward a short building in the distance. They passed through a set of double glass doors with economics department etched across them. After walking through a maze of doors and hallways, they reached a large open door labeled, 47B.
“Okay, I texted Ben and asked to meet up,” Rebecca said, looping her arm around Claire’s. “But he doesn’t know why yet, so it might be a little weird. If things get awkward, please save me.”
“Okay, don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll have a lot of questions.”
Rebecca and Claire peaked into the classroom and saw the professor cleaning up his desk.
Claire was surprised when she first saw Ben Winters. Rebecca had warned her that he was young, but Claire was amazed that he looked only slightly older than her. He was dressed smartly in khaki pants and a pressed blue button-up shirt. He was tan and handsome, and Claire could see why Rebecca had dated him; she imagined most of
his female students wanted to be with him.
“Hey, Ben!” Rebecca said as they approached him.
His face lit up when he saw her. “Becky!” he said, as the two walked toward each other and hugged. They held their embrace for such a long time that Claire felt uncomfortable. They released but were still very close, with their eyes locked. Claire could tell that neither of them had moved on much.
“You look great,” Ben said after the short pause.
“Yeah. Oh, I’m sorry” Rebecca said as she took a few steps back. “This is my friend, Claire.”
“Hi, I’m Ben,” the professor said, shaking her hand.
“She’s from Houston,” Rebecca said.
Ben’s eyes popped open in shock. “Really!” he said excitedly. “You’re the first person I’ve met from Houston. I knew eventually we’d start to get some refugees from there, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.”
“Refugee?” Claire said. “I’m not a refugee… Well, I’m not really a refugee. Well, I guess I am kind of a refugee.”
“Wow, you sound conflicted. I’m guessing by the out-of-the-blue text message from Rebecca and your confusion that you have quite a story.”
Claire could sense this man was much wiser and more mature than his boyish looks had led her to believe.
Rebecca jumped in. “Yes, she had an amazing story, and she and I have a lot of questions. Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“Sure. I’m just clearing up from my last class. Let me finish, and we can grab a drink,” Ben said glancing at Rebecca.
“That sounds nice,” Rebecca said with a slight smile.
As Ben finished tidying up his desk, Rebecca and Claire walked back to the hallway.
“Wow,” Claire said. “Yeah you were right. That was a little awkward for me.”
Rebecca snickered. “I’m sorry, Claire”
Claire smiled back and looked at the framed photos that hung on the walls. The photos were black-and-white images of beautiful buildings that Claire didn’t recognize.