Atlas

In the time of nightmares

The heaven's opened wide spilling out their bounty. A warm glow cascading over a broken and unclean world.

Porsha stopped for a moment on the road. Her body and limbs tired from the long journey. In the stillness absorbing the warmth of the freshly risen sun. Sunlight pouring down caressing over the emerald landscape. The country was like a different planet. So different from the turmoil of the city. The sleeping sickness had spread across the globe like wild fire. Porsha had been an Emergency room nurse. She wondered silently how many sun sets shed failed to appreciate in her old life. Quickly she let go of the thought shaking her head free of reflection. Marching forward with both hands gripping her back-pack straps. A few paces ahead Tim slowed himself watching Porsha. Porsha's presence made him feel normal. Tim was a natural protector it was in his bones. He'd grown up as the man of the house after his dad died. Porsha considered watching over Porsha  his job. She was his reason for being in this motley crew. A few times Tim had thought about other scenarios. Realistically on his own would be easier even safer. He just couldn't picture not being able to watch over her. Just to be near her was worth the risk. He was all in whatever it took to be near her. it walking for hours searching for a cabin in the woods. Ms. Perfect Claire Oakwind phiced that it would be a safe. Somewhere outside of the chaos that had been evolving throughout the city. Over the past few weeks civilization had broken apart. Decaying like rotten fruit in the sun. Claire was the most vulnerable in the group.   Less than 2 months ago she'd been a Barbi doll sorority sister. Concerned about little more than the best angle for taking selfie pictures. The group had organically filled it's self with societys polar opposites. Malcom our very quiet tall black man. Then there was Tim soft spoken former teacher. Tim was the reason Porsha chose to split from our original group. Staying in the city didn't seem safe anymore. Week's had passed busting at the seams with bodies. There where so many people who where fortunate enough to have survived the ordeal. There seemed to be many assholes left. It all started with Marshal law being declared. What was left of the police and firefighters formed their own group they controlled all the supplies in the city and the people too. They'd come to our group and took Richard, a pediatric doctor, against his will. Sean gathered those of us in the group that were unburdened by children and able to fend for ourselves. "The city was in its death throws and the window to make a clean break was closing." We had all gone through our individual trauma's just trying to survive. I think it was the hope of there being something more. After losing so many loved ones we all felt a hollowness taking over. Curt came into my broom closet slash room,

"Its about time that we start to look at greener pastures." Curt muttered on with his 9mm on his hip. He wasn't the biggest or even the smartest but he had an aggressive way with words. Truth was that I lost just looking to get thru the days. Being apart of this group was as good as any other but better than most. I was a leaf drifting on the wind when I lost mama. She and i fought over so many things so many times. Still fight or no fight there is nothing like your mom.

"I'm in as long as Sean is on board." With the words leaving my mouth I didn't realize just how desperate that I sounded. It was devastating but Sean was all that I had left from my old life. Sean Connelly the young and charismatic English teacher from San Diego California. When the sleeping sickness hit the City he was the Blue eyed white guy teaching Grammar to teens at PS152. Sean was the guy trying like hell not to Fail my baby sister Bonita. All the parent teacher conferences that our mother missed because she was to drunk or to hung over. I didn't mind taking off a shift from the hospital to talk about grades and progress. Actually I found myself excited to cover just for the chance to talk and absorb his endless optimism. He was handsome guy in a kid of suffer boy way. It just felt like there was a wall between the casual and getting to know each other better. I made the excuse that I didn't have the time or the energy to knock the wall down. Each time I thought to ask Seth to have a drink or to hang out. Rejection just seemed like the worst thing in the world.