Category : Stories

Sub Category : Drama

The world is going to end and yet people are fighting to get on airplanes? It's a global predicament yet people are still trying to fly out to where? There is no where safe.

"Come on! Give me a ticket! I know that big plane isn't full!"

"Sir, as I said, that plane is reserved. No one is going on it. Please step away."

At another counter across the airport..

"You don't understand, I'm begging you. I need to get home."

"I do understand sir. I'm just saying, there's nothing I can do."

So many people trying to get out and here I am, not caring. The world is ending and I don't care. My world ended when I lost my wife. She was my world. I came here to this airport because it's where I met her. My world. Now it's where I say my final goodbye.

"Sir?"

"Yes? Are you speaking to me?"

"If you are not traveling you need to leave."

"Where should I go? Haven't you noticed the world is ending?"

"I'm not sure sir but there are many people waiting. You need to leave."

"Of course. I'll go."

I quietly leave. I don't have any luggage so I just walk out into the chaos. So many people fighting for cabs, cars or hell I see a few getting on bikes. I just shake my head and walk down the street. I've no destination, nothing will save me. It is the end of the world after all.

"Hey! Where are you going!"

I stop in my tracks and turn to see a beautiful brunette heading for me. I quickly assume she is seeking out someone behind me because I've never had any luck with women like her outside my loving wife. 

"No where is safe so I'm just walking."

"Let me join you. I'm tired of that crap inside."

I suddenly recognize her as the ticket lady who was trying to help as many as she could. Often just giving away open seats on planes. She brushes her fingers through her hair and takes a deep breath before speaking again

"Where is a quiet place? I don't know this city. Just moved here and was getting excited about exploring when all this happened."

"Any family?"

"No. Dad died few years back and I hate my mom. Had two sisters but they disowned me after dad. That's why I moved here."

"Wow, I'm sorry for your loss. My wife thankfully died three years ago. I say thankfully because trying to live through this would have only been more pain. She's in peace now."

Absentmindedly I turn and head for the park where we went as kids. This city is my home. This is where my wife lies. I will not leave. I will die here. She speaks again

"My name is Rachel. What's yours?"

"Anthony Lord. My wife, her name was Rachel as well."

Rachel smiles and brushes her hair away from her face. Her eyes shine a bright green. Quite remarkable. 

"Are you my wife, coming to take me home?"

I laugh as I say it for I know it is absolutely absurd. Her silence gives me cause to stop and look upon her.

"No, I'm not Anthony. You are very much alive."

I sigh in defeat. For a moment I had a grand feeling of standing with my wife once more. I nod and turn to continue to the park before it gets to dark to see. Thankfully I have nothing else to say and the journey is over quickly.

When we arrive at the park Rachel smiles and asks

"When did you come here? How did you meet your wife?

My mind easily slips back to the day I met her. Even my eyes sparkle at the mere thought of her. I speak easily

"I met her at the airport. She was behind me in line waiting to go home to New York. I was on my way home to Ohio. Our flight got delayed and we wound up sitting in the coffee bar just talking until our plane was ready."

I stop a moment and look around the park. Despite the anger and sadness of the world around us, this park remains a place of peace. It's placid lake holds the colors of the burning sky. The tress sway gently in the strong winds. A mighty pine which I climbed many times, stays strong and hardly moves. I make my way to the pine and find at its base the rock with her name on it. Rachel is looking on from behind me. She startled me with her speaking because in the moment, I only saw my wife.

"Why not carve your initials in the tree like so many others?"

"Rachel and I are big environmentalists. Carving into a tree is a big no no."

I laugh as I recall painting the rock and placing it there. In truth I'm surprised it is still there after all these years. A strong winds shakes the pine and a pine cone falls upon my head. It reminds me of those times we had pine cone fights. Then we'd paint them and give them away.

"I'm sorry, I got distracted. Onto the story. After a few months of talking back and forth long distance and seeing each other on multiple occasions, we decided to get together. I quit my job and moved to New York to be with her. Make a long story short, we were married a year later. Happily over 15 years. Then cancer took her from me."

Rachel lays her hand on my shoulder as I realize I'm leaning on the pine quite heavily. We move to sit on a bench by the calm lake. It is growing darker and the breeze is cooler as we sit there. She says nothing. The night fully comes and the stars shatter the overwhelming darkness. Rachel leans close and touches my leg. She whispers

"Anthony, why don't we go to your home and get out of the cold. Dawn is a long ways off."

I nod, hardly thinking as we stand and head towards the house I shared with my wife. All the while thinking

"It's the end of the world, what am I doing?"

We reach my home rather quickly despite the people running around screaming. It makes no sense to me seeing how there is no real safe place to be right now. I mean the threat of nuclear attack I guess would put anyone in fear. Nothing can be done by racing around in panic though. I say let them fall. I'm ready.

"Hey, Anthony, are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry Rachel, I was just thinking. This is home for me. Let's go in, I'll give you the grand tour so to speak."

The grand tour? Makes it sound like my home is huge. Naw, just three bedrooms and two bathrooms all on a single floor. We never wanted anything big since neither of us could have kids and in truth, didn't want any right now. Does that sound bad? Well I thought we had more time than we did. Don't get me wrong, I wanted kids eventually. I give Rachel the tour and stop in the living room by the couch in front of the fireplace. My hand rests on the back of the couch and I almost lose it. Damn I swear I can smell her!

"Hey, it's okay. We don't have to be here. We can go."

"No, truthfully I feel good here. Where else would we go anyway. The world's ending."

"I know. It's just that since you and your wife shared this home, maybe this was wrong.."

"No, I will always cherish her. It's not wrong."

Rachel sat on the couch as I locked the doors and closed the shades over all the windows. Quickly I started a fire then sat beside her. She lays a hand on my knee and leans into me. It feels right. Comfortable. I lean my head upon hers and smell her hair. Can't help it, right in my face. It smells of strawberries. Strangely I am reminded of my dad and his strawberry fields. It's a great memory though because Rachel and I oft visited that place and it's where I proposed to her. I can't help but smile. Beside me Rachel stirs and I can tell by her breathing, she is fast asleep. Is there a better way to face the end of the world? I surly can't think of one. Goodnight. Goodbye. See you soon my love....

End? 

Maybe..
Maybe not.