A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure
Despite the thick ash choking the air outside, the dog’s determination to claim the city woke her; she never needed an alarm when she had Lady’s whines. They made it to the end of the block before they had to turn back.
Inside, she prepped for the upcoming day. Between the spontaneous fires that had been breaking out and the regularity of her underground and above-water route to work getting blocked by mysterious “signal delays,” she always carried plenty of food and water.
Her breather hardly seemed to filter the air this morning. Each breath she took felt labored, and clogged with ash. Even the recirculated subway air seemed dense, but she lost herself in a book for the majority of the journey out of Brooklyn. She looked up only to peer through the thickly coated windows as they began their ascent. She couldn’t see much through the muck, but it looked like the river was lapping up another block.
As she grabbed a chai in the office kitchen, she told her coworker about her upcoming vacation. “I’ve always wanted to see the world,” she said, “and I’m not letting the end of the world stop me.” Even though she traveled without an itinerary, she hoped to get the chance to see some ancient ruins and to have good air for outdoor activities.
“Aren’t you worried about the political tensions?” her coworker asked.
She shook her head as she took a sip of the chai. She’d heard some of the spices were getting rare, and she wanted to enjoy it as long as she could. “Not for my safety,” she said. “But for all of us, yes.”
The day was invigorating from there: she snacked on the pumpkin cream cheese muffins she’d baked the day before, and they fueled her creative side as she marketed her publishing house’s books.
At home, she checked her emails. “Dear Katherine,” one started, “It’s so great to hear the WNBA is still meeting and creating events! We’d love to be involved in the panel you’re putting together.”
She responded before curling up with the dog and a book. Because of the emergency regulations against chopping trees, she imagined it was one of the last print books she’d get. But she had an e-reader when the time came to switch. She’d be okay. As long as the East River and the Atlantic stayed where they were. After all, she’d probably miss her chance to evacuate because she wouldn’t be able to decide which books to bring.
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