A Short Story

The plague was destroying the people. Friends are enemies, Siblings are adversaries, and employees betraying the stores they work at. Only a few of us have our sanity left. Tawnya and I are two of those few.

After the plague destroyed our world as we know it, the few that escaped were forced to live in seclusion. We were placed in a small camp in the Rockies. Each person was given a small hut; 9x9 feet. We were given rations; one week’s worth that should only be three or four day’s worth.

Tawnya was is my anchor. She and I are best friends. When the plague first came to our small community Tawnya got my out of the town. She dragged me out of my helpless state. My parents and siblings were all left behind. I was weeping and trying to run to my house, but Tawnya dragged me - literally dragged me - out to the forest. The sight in the town wasn’t pretty.

When we first saw the village, Tawnya’s first thought was run. However my instinct kicked in and grabbed her wrist. She looked at me like I was crazy, but this was my turn to save her. We were next to starving and these people had food. We were staying.

We have been in the village for six months. No signs of sickness. Until three days ago. Nysha, a resident fell on her knees and started vomiting. Instead of people rushing to help her they ran and fled, scared for their lives. Tawnya included. Where were these people’s hearts? Just because it was a risk you weren’t going to help?

I was the one who ran to her side. I was the one who ignored Tawnya. I was the one who dragged her to the stream and nursed back to health. When we walked back into the village everyone fled into their huts. We were the ones feared.

That night I disobeyed the direct rules of the town. I stayed in Nysha’s hut. After Nysha had fallen asleep Tawnya came in.

“Nick, do you realize what you are doing? You are risking your life for someone you hardly know.” She says as she walks in.

“Tawnya, of course I realize what I’m doing. Okay? I realize I hardly know her. I know I’m risking my life. I realize that normal wouldn’t probably do this, but normal people are jerks. Like you.”

“Nick, what is wrong with you?”

“No Tawnya, what is wrong with you? Before we came here you were nice. You were caring. You dragged me into the woods, instead of just running off. If you were like this then, would you have saved me? Would you Tawnya? Because I don’t think you would.”

“Nick-”

“Go Tawnya, go. You aren’t helping your case.”

As she walked away I thought about how much I had changed. I used to be selfish. Caring only for myself. After that night though, that changed. I no longer cared about only myself. I hardly even cared about myself anymore. In fact, I could care less if I died.

“Why?” This is what Nysha asked as she woke up. “Why, I wouldn’t have saved you. Why?”

“Nysha, I did it because I had seen enough death. As Tawnya, my friend, dragged me into the forest instead of just taking off, it changed me. The sight in the town. She, Tawnya, didn’t see. She was looking the other direction. I saw death. I could not, would not live the same selfish way I had before. That’s why I saved you. You’re not even sick anymore.”

“What? That’s not possible, the disease doesn’t have a cure. I can’t be better.”
“What do you mean? You are. You’re fi-”

“AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!”

“What was that?”

I look out the window. Blood.

“RUN! RUN, NYSHA, RUN!”

Nysha didn’t run, though. She stood there. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open.

“I don’t have the virus, they do.”

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”

We couldn’t go out, not now. We blocked the door and looked out the other window. More blood. The only person I see not particpating in the blood battle was Tawnya. She was standing on a hill looking in our window. The next moment she was gone.

“Nysha, we have to leave.”

Nysha, however wasn’t packing food, clothes, or blankets. She was digging a hole.

“Nysha, what are you doing? We don’t have time to dig holes.”

Nysha’s spade hits a blunt object. She takes it out. An axe.

“You going to help?”

We dig for five more minutes before we get the whole axe out. There are loud bangs on the door. We pack as quick as we can.

“AAAAHHH!” The door falls in. Nysha’s on it. The axe in hand she bashes in the head of the intruder.

“Let’s go.”

We flee the village and try to find the stream. When we do we wash the muck and filth off.

“Ah!”

All the sudden Tawnya’s crazed eyes glare at me.

“Tawnya are you alright?” I ask.

She doesn’t answer and continues to stare at me. Her eyes have never looked this way. She was infected. The most careful person in the whole world was infected. My whole world turned upside down.

“Nick run!” Nysha’s voice takes me out of trance. “Nick we don’t have time! Run!”

She grabs my hand and pulls me while at the same hitting Tawnya on the head with the shovel. I run, but I can’t get Tawnya’s face out of my mind.

“Nick, I know Tawnya was your friend. I saw you with you with her every day. But she’s unsaveable. Nick look at me”

I’m only half listening. Tawnya saved my life. Shouldn’t I try to save her? I’m not about to give up on my best friend. Try as I might I can’t get her out of my mind.

“Nick I know what your thinking. But you cannot-promise me you won’t- go after her.”

“Nysha, she saved my life, so shouldn’t I try to save her?”

“Nick, what if she’s beyond saving? When I first came here my mother was sick, infected with this incurable disease. She told me to save myself because she was to far gone. She said that I had to be careful, and when the disease came to this town, save yourself. The others are incurable, save yourself.

“Nick it’s not selfish. It’s survival. It’s the only way we can make it through. Nick I don’t want to see you go back and get yourself killed, you are the only thing I’ve got to hold on to. Nick I love you.”

Those three words snapped my head around. I looked into her eyes. Those grey eyes full of sympathy. Those eyes that looked deep into your soul. Those eyes that knew my heart.

“I promise. Nysha, I will never leave. I will stay by your side until the day die. You are my anchor. You are my survival. You are my reason. For you, and only you, I will keep going. Nysha, I love you. I promise”

And they all lived happily ever after…