For a brief moment the sounds of small explosions, bones splintering, heavily armored trucks driving by and men shouting hate, didn’t matter. Her life-filled bodied expanded and shrank. Curled in a make shift sleeping, that they had been living in for a few nights. Her left arm draped over the stomach of a man so manic it was thrilling. Eyes lazily closed, Ethan could see every hardship in every breath she was granted in this moment of peace. Ethan allowed himself to play with her thin-curled hair. The sun was slowly setting; this was possibly his favorite moment of his day. The small cracks in the between the panels let light enter into the small space, lighting up their legs. His hands roamed his old Levi jeans pockets, removing a small tin object. Circular in shape with a shined stone held tightly by crudely pressed hooks; he slid the ring on her finger. He smiled, and admired his own handy work.
It has been two weeks since they left the home that he thought he would spend the rest of his life in. They had been living with a group of people in a small commune on the banks of The James River. The community was pleasant, filled with former CAC members. The food was reliably poison-free, since the soil was untouched by industrial waste. Warm gently used clothes brought from scavengers, who always gave them first picks. That was the first time he did not have to think about the army, or infection. He had made friends there, made a home. Ethan and Alba even had a routine set. Everyday once the sunset they would wake up, eat a meal with their neighbors and go out on patrol. He thought this would never end, that they would settle down and start a family. Though Ethan knew Alba would never allow this to happen, her spirit was too curious to be fixed into a place. But a guy could dream he thought.
The sun was almost set now; Ethan removed the ring from Alba’s finger and put it back in his pocket. Like clockwork Alba woke up as soon as the sunset. Her brown eyes open and closed, she shifted slightly mumbling slightly. They lied there for a few seconds; Ethan smiling knowing Alba was not actually asleep. Yet he played along and wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. Alba run her fingers up and down his forearm while whispering some phrase Ethan could never understand.
“I had a dream this morning.” Alba said without taking her hand off Ethan’s arm.
“Oh yeah, what was it about?” He lay there enjoying her touch.
“The Sun.”
Ethan moved his mouth by her ear “Mmm, what happened?”
“It was like before. We were outside with our backs bare, feeling the warmth without radiation,”
“Sounds nice.” He kissed her ear, then her neck.
“It was very nice, the grass was so green, and itchy.” Alba pressed up against Ethan; she allowed his hands to explore zippers and inseams.
“There was grass?” He asked with wispiness.
“ Mhm,” was all she could muster out.
“Mhm,” Ethan repeated in a higher octave.
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