World No More

I pushed the speed limit all the way to the hospital. I found the closest parking space and killed the engine. “I'll be right back with help, you two stay put.” With that I bolted from the truck and into the hospital lobby. “Can someone help please?” I asked before I could get to the counter “I have two people who might have the virus.” The lady behind the counter went pale and nodded.

She pressed a button near her and said, “We have two more down here.” She then turned back to me as four doctors rushed down the hall towards us rolling two stretchers, “Miss, I need you to stay calm and show these four doctors where your vehicle is.”

I nodded as one of the men approached me, “Hello I'm Doctor Adams. Can you please take us to them?” He looked worn and tired from treating the excessive amount of patients in the small hospital. I lead the team to the truck where they quickly took Clair and Brad inside, leaving me standing in the parking lot.

I helplessly sat in the waiting room as the hours ticked by. The epidemic was taking its toll on the surrounding counties as people poured into the already overpopulated hospital. I saw most of our small town check in and watch as they were, one by one, rolled away to die. This constant flow of people into the hospital continued well into the night. By six the next morning, Clair, Brad, and half the town, were dead. With no reason to stay, I drove to my empty home in a daze.

I left the key in the door as I walked through the house to the bathroom. I shut the door and stared at my reflection in the mirror across the room. The woman staring back was broken and left alone to face the terrors of the last days of man. Not able to bare the sight longer, I went to my room, dropped onto the bed and waited to die.

I woke up a few days later, physically better than the days before.Seeing no reason to continue lying face down in the pillow, I got to my feet and hauled myself to the bathroom. Avoiding the mirror, I stepped, fully clothed, into the shower and turned the water on. I quickly thought over my new rutine; get up, wander the house, and then sleep. This was out of the ordinary and I didn't like it.My meaningless shower was cut short when the phone rang. My heart gave a small jump as I considered the possibility of a mistake and that Clair or Brad was still alive. I ran to the phone, dripping wet. “Hello,” I said into my cordless phone.

“Mia, it’s me Ben,” I felt my heart fall to the floor as I the reality of the situation came crashing down on top of me. “May’s dead,” Ben’s voice was shaking, “I just wanted you to know.” With that, he hung up.

My knees grew weak and I allowed myself to fall to the floor. The disease killed in eight days, I only had to wait eight days. Or, maybe, I didn’t have to wait at all. I quickly got my keys and drove to town. The drive there was quiet and longer than usual, probably because I was going to end my life.

I parked the car in front of the local gun store, not even bothering to take the keys out of the ignition. The sound of my car door slamming echoed through the lifeless town. The only thing that withheld me from achieving my goal was a locked glass door, which I quickly broke with a nearby rock. I unlocked the door through the new hole and stepped inside. Guns lined walls and shelves. I walked behind the counter to examine the handguns displayed in the glass case. Seeing one I liked, I grabbed the key the owner had left behind and unlocked the case. The gun was lighter than I had expected and appeared to be perfectly designed for my hand.

To my surprise, the gun was loaded. I quickly shook the panic that began welling inside me and held the gun to my head. I stood there for a long time, staring out the glass windows at the front of the store. Tears filled my eyes as the faces of my deceased friends and family played in my mind. Then, as if she was standing right beside me, my mother’s voice rang in my head, “Mia, don’t, please, don’t do this.”

Unable to bring myself to end my life, I turned the gun away and fired the gun until all the bullets were gone. I dropped to the floor and began to cry. My loud sobs fell on deaf ears as I allowed my brokenness to show. I lay there for hours, pouring my heart out to the firearm in my hand. Finally feeling the strength to move, I sat up and leaned against the counter. The relief I got from crying allowed my mind to concentrate on more important things. I realized, since I wasn’t going to die for atleast a week, I needed food. I rose from behind the counter and went to my car.

I sped down the deserted streets of my hometown trying to wipe the stray tears from my eyes. I left the car running as I busted the window to the supermarket, unlocked the door, and walked inside. The store hadn’t been touched since its last customer and was full of nonperishable food items. I grabbed a quick snack and began loading food into my car. “Might as well take the store since I’m the only one,” I muttered to myself as I shoved a box of canned green beans into the trunk. I wasn't able to get much into my car and told myself I would get the rest tomorrow. I drove home after locking the store door. The power was off by the end of the day. I carelessly threw the food that needed refrigerating out and filled the now warm fridge with canned goods. I opened a can of corn and had the worst supper of my life then went to take a real shower. I slumped onto my bed and closed my eyes. I laid there for a while thinking through my food rescue plan. Once I organized my thoughts, a new idea occurred to me. I rolled onto my side and resolved to go to Ben’s and May’s house the next day.