Critical Measures

by Kip Nelson

  “I know we haven't really had a chance to speak because things have been crazy, and I know there's still a lot we have to get to know about each other. I mean, damn, I'm going to be honest with you now and say it's been years since I've had a girlfriend. So, I'm really not sure about the best way to go about things, but I just...when I'm with you, things feel like they're supposed to be. The world has been broken, and I don't know if it ever will be repaired fully, but I'm with you, and I'm happy. It's funny, isn't it? It only took the end of the world to value my existence. What I'm trying to say is that I think this is something special and I want to see where it goes. I want to face the future with you by my side, Tara. If you want to, that is.”

  She giggled a little. “You're really cute when you get all awkward like that,” she said, and then stepped forward so she could wrap her arms around him, and the two of them embraced.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Gray clouds rolled across the sky. The wind was chilly and bitter. It crept up sleeves and made goosebumps ripple over skin. There was the faint hint of moisture in the air. All were sure it was foreshadowing torrential rain later, and they were sure they were going to be caught in it. Some thought they heard the soft rumble of thunder in the distance, but lightning was not flashing and cracking in the sky yet. However, a storm surely could come soon because that was the way of things.

  Six people stood in a cemetery. It was quiet. The world still was. The city was not far from a graveyard itself, with dead strewn all over the place, with empty skyscrapers resembling tombstones, monuments to the hubris of humanity. They thought they had been invincible, that the advancements they had made in technology shielded them from the terrors of the world. They all had lived in a bubble, sure that the world would continue turning in the same manner, and that life would continue as they were used to, but every empire has to fall, and this one crashed because of an unseen, irreversible force.

  It was important to remember those they had lost. Adam, Tara, Peter, Diana, Stan, and Annabelle all were standing over a grave, the grave of Evangeline, Peter's beloved wife, who had died years before the apocalypse hit the world. Yet, each of them had lost others who were dear to them. Adam had seen Clark beaten to death in front of his eyes, his body left a bloody pulp. Tara had seen so many people she thought of as friends be struck down by Lisa. Peter had been forced to face his demons in war, and forced to break his solemn vow never to take another life. Diana had to watch as her sister was torn away from her grasp, crushed under the weight of a baying crowd after Diana had promised for years to protect her and keep her safe. Stan had watched his wife raped and beaten to death. Annabelle had seen her parents torn away from her, and it was only due to the sheer mercy of fate that the father and daughter had been reunited.

  In the echoes of this sadness there was happiness, too. The world had brought them all together and they had formed bonds with each other. If the EMP had not occurred, and the world had not gone dark, they never would have known each other existed. Sometimes Adam wondered what his life would have been like had things continued the way he thought they would. He had been on the cusp of showing a remarkable new technology to the world. It was a technology that would have made it possible for people to leave their lives and visit a virtual simulation, where they could be anything and anyone they wanted to be. It was a shame that that technology never would see the light of day, but as he looked around at his friends he knew he would not want to change a thing. The loss of life was a huge price to pay, and if he could change anything, he would make it so that all the innocent souls who had been killed could find peace and happiness.

  Yet he knew it was important to take joy in tandem with the despair. Their enemies had been defeated. Peace reigned in their small corner of the city, and they were together.

  Peter sniffled as he bent down and placed his hand upon Evangeline's tombstone. “My love, part of me wishes you were here with me, but another part is glad that you haven't had to watch the world turn into what it is now. I've been trying to be a good man, the man I was when I was with you, and I hope that when we meet again you will not be ashamed to call me your husband. I miss you every day, and I thought that I would be with you now, but I suppose I'll have to wait a little longer.”

  All of them shared a moment of silence. None of them other than Peter had known Evangeline, of course, but they all spared a thought for the people they had lost along the way. Tears rolled down rosy cheeks. Tara squeezed Adam's hand. Diana placed her arm around Peter's shoulder. Stan held his daughter close to him. They were people who had been bonded by sorrow. The world had plenty of that to share, but all of them still were alive. They had endured the end of the world, and they knew that soon spring would come, and along with it more promise for the future.

  “Peter, I remember at the beginning of all this when it was just me and you. I feel like that was a lifetime ago now. We were trying to make it alone in the wilderness and, somehow, we didn't die. I don't know why you followed my lead then because I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow, we managed to make it back to the city. I know that we've all lost a lot in this world, but we've also gained a lot as well.”

  As he spoke his eyes moved to each and every one of them in turn, smiling at them. “Before this world, I was a loner. I lived in movies, TV shows, and books. My only connections with human beings were at work, but I never felt as though I belonged with them. My life always was lived in the virtual world, and I never felt as though I fit in anywhere. That's all changed now. You've shown me I can be a part of the world and I'm so glad you are a part of my life. I mourn the people we have lost, but I also celebrate the fact that through all this misery and sorrow and hardship we have found each other. Hell, we even reunited a family!” he said, and Stan gave Annabelle an extra hard squeeze.

  “In all seriousness, though,” Adam continued, “you people aren't just my friends, you're my family. I love you all and I'm glad we've made it through all this together.”

  They all hugged and stood over the grave for a while, each of them thinking about their place in the world and how they fit in with others. One by one, they start moving away. Stan and Annabelle were first. As they started to leave, Annabelle asked if Diana was coming with them.

  “I'll be along in a minute,” she said, and then gestured for Adam to have a private word. The two of them moved away from Tara and Peter. Diana looked troubled, and Adam was concerned.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Not really,” she said, “I don't know how I'm going to tell her.”

  “I'm sure you'll find a way. I did tell you it was going to break her heart. Are you sure you haven't changed your mind?”

  “No, I know this is the right thing.”

  “I think she wants the three of you to be a family.”

  “I know, and that's what makes it harder, but I never can replace her mom. She's with her dad now, and that's good. It's the right time for me to leave.”

  “I'm still not sure I agree with that, but you already know my feelings on it,” he said. Diana had told him of her plan to leave a few nights ago. At the time, he had been upset and didn't understand why, but with more time to process the information, and after a loud argument, he knew Diana wasn't going to change her mind.

  “I am an actress, and it's time for me to find a new role to play,” she joked, and then turned a little more serious.

  “There are other kids like Annabelle out there who need help, lost children. I owe it to them to try finding them. Not all of them are going to be as lucky as Annabelle and find their parents again. I owe it to my sister as well. I just can't be happy knowing there are other kids out there who need a home.”

  “I know. But, you know, you do have a home. I hope that one day you'll come back.”

  “I'm sure I will,” she said.

  Meanwhile, Tara and Peter still were standing over the grave. “You've been a good friend to him,” Tara said. “I don't think he would have made it out wit
hout you.”

  “The same goes for him. I wish all of you could have met her,” he said, his sad eyes focused on the grave.

  “I feel as if I have, and I want to hear more stories about her,” Tara said.

  “I have plenty of those,” Peter said, smiling, although his voice was devoid of any humor.

  “You two are lucky. You must cherish these moments, because they are gone before you know it. You think you have all the time in the world, and then...” he trailed off, and then cleared his throat, choking back a sob.

  “You know, when I was younger, and I'd been through the war, I didn't think I ever would be able to live a normal life again. I thought I had changed, that I had left some part of myself over there, but Evangeline saw something in me. She rescued me, she loved me even when I couldn't love myself, and she taught me how to be in the world again. I know it's not the same, but I think that's what's happening now. People have seen the world break apart, and we've had to learn to do everything again. You and Adam, you're teaching each other how to love, and it's wonderful. I hope you're going to be happy for a long time.”

  “Thank you, Peter,” Tara said, genuinely touched by his words, “and I'm sure there's someone out there for you, too.”

  He shook his head sadly. “No, not for me. I loved Evangeline, and we were happier than we had any right to be. I knew when I was with her that I'd never love anyone else, it just didn’t seem right. I made my peace with it long ago, though. I'll see her again one day, and then I can tell her about everything she missed.”

  “I'm sure she'll appreciate that,” she said, and kissed the older man on the cheek.

  They returned to their home, which now had been cleaned and rebuilt and was looking much better than when it had been a war zone. Now that the populations of the communities had melted together, the hostilities between groups had diminished and everyone was on good terms. By the time they returned it was time for dinner, so they settled around the campfire. The orange blaze crackled as food was passed around. The stars glittered overhead, and the silver moon shone brightly. Diana had told everyone aside from Annabelle that she was leaving, but she could put it off no longer. It had been a heart-wrenching decision, but she knew it was the right thing.

  She pulled Annabelle aside and told her in a quiet voice that she was leaving. Annabelle's lower lip trembled, and for all her precociousness and intelligence she did not understand what Diana was saying. “You can't go,” Annabelle protested, “I don't want you to go.”

  “I have to, sweetie,” Diana said. “I love you, but my place isn't here. There are going to be other kids like you, and I need to help them.”

  “Then let me go with you!” Annabelle cried.

  Diana smiled softly. “I wish you could, but your place is with your father. You need to be here, Annabelle. These people need you, and you know it. Who else is going to teach them how to live? And one day you're going to grow up and you're going to be the leader.”

  “I am?”

  “You're a special kid, Annabelle, and you're going to be an even more special woman. I'm sorry that this hurts so much. Believe me, it cuts me up inside too, but I have to do this.”

  “Are you ever going to come back?” Annabelle asked in a small voice, sniffling.

  “I will, one day. I promise you that,” she said, and she meant every word. She hugged Annabelle tightly and had to blink away her tears, and for a moment Diana almost did say she was going to stay. But then she wrenched herself away from Annabelle and stood up. She walked Annabelle back over to Stan and the others. Annabelle clung to her father.

  “So, this is it?” Adam said.

  “I think so. The longer I stay the harder it's going to be to leave,” she said, and although she was an actress, and had mastery over her emotions, she could not keep a lid on her sadness. It was so hard for her to let go of all these people she loved, but it was something she simply had to do. She hugged each of them in turn.

  “Try to stay out of trouble,” she told Adam.

  “That's going to be harder without you to keep me in line,” he said.

  The two of them smiled, and then Diana walked away. Each step took her farther away from them and she did not look back because she did not want them to see the tears streaming down her face. Adam watched with sorrow as she disappeared into the darkness, but deep inside he knew they were going to see each other again.

  When Diana had disappeared Annabelle burst into tears, wailing loudly. Stan tried to calm her, but then took her back to their home when it was clear she needed more comfort. Peter then moved away as well, leaving Tara and Adam sitting alone by the fire. They watched Stan and Annabelle move away.

  “I can't believe she's gone,” Adam said.

  “That was hard to watch. You think Annabelle is going to be alright?”

  “She will be, she has to be,” he said. “She still has us at least. It's funny to think what's going to happen when spring comes, how much this place is going to change.”

  “We get to build a new world,” she said. After a moment's pause, she added, “Have you ever thought about children?”

  Adam looked at her, but Tara was staring straight into the fire. “I...I'm...I'm open to the possibility,” he said finally, after thinking about it for a few moments. Tara looked up at him and smiled. Then they kissed, smiling as they thought about the future they all were going to build together.

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