Chapter Fourteen: Nancy Revisited:

My relationship with my husband hasn’t been good for a long time. I would say that I didn’t know why we hung but that would be a lie. What choice did we have? The world is going to shite. We had to leave our homes. At the time, my boyfriend and I thought about breaking up. I barely remember what triggered it. I think we were fighting after we got back from the club. I want to say that he had been cheating on me again, but honestly, it doesn’t matter anymore. Ava was one at the time.

And then, the sirens went off.

“What was that?” he asked. I turned on the TV.

“This is not a test! I repeat this is not a test! The invasion has begun. I repeat the invasion has begun. Pack up everything that you need. You will need to get to shelter underground! I repeat get to shelter underground! That is all!” the announcement said. My boyfriend and looked at each other. We started to move as if on command.

We were stuffed into a dorm in this shelter. There were only two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and one bathroom. My boyfriend wound up getting married. It wasn’t out of love. It was out of the fear of us dying. They kept saying tomorrow could be the last day during this invasion. He proposed and I said yes. We had the wedding in the chapel section of the shelter. And already I started to regret it.

Not much changed aside from being in a new location. He didn’t change either. I hated our new situation. I hated our new home. I hated my new marriage. I could tell that he hated it too. Why were we still hanging on? I wanted to leave and he wanted to leave. I didn’t see the point anymore. I was going to tell him during yet another argument. One thing led to another and well…We ended up in bed together. Yeah…

And then I got pregnant again.

I know we couldn’t stay together because of a baby. But what choice did I have? We were stuck in the shelter. The war or invasion is still going on. And we have nothing. I was just stuck against my will. That was until that fateful trip to the surface.

Did you know that he hasn’t tried to look for us? Oh no. There might be some reasons but he’s going to use that as an excuse for why he couldn’t look for us. I know how he is. Honestly, I’m not surprised anymore. And I am too tired to care. When I think of all that, I’m not too sure if I want to go back. The surface isn’t that bed. And we’re not alone. Though, I have my doubts about that too.

Mick is so hard to read. He won’t let me get close to him. I can’t imagine him living alone up here on the surface. He says that he’s managed. Sure, he’s got a dog. But how has he managed without any people around?

I couldn’t do that.

I got the feeling that Mick didn’t want us around but he still helped us. He can’t explain why either. I gave up asking him. Right now, I am making the most of my new situation and waiting for my baby to be born. Even then, I don’t think we can stay here for long. We might have to get moving soon. Heh. I keep saying “we”. I don’t know. I just can’t leave him behind. It’s like I adopted a little puppy. Speaking of puppies, Marshmallow has to come with us too. Ava loves her too much. Plus, it would just be cruel to leave that dog behind.

I leaned forward on the table.

“So what do we do now?” I asked. Mick raised his eyebrow as he looked at me.

“Why?” he asked.

“You have to a plan to survive somehow,” I said. “What will you do when the food runs out?”

“I will manage,” he said. That’s always his answer. It makes me want to grind my teeth.

“And what if you can’t manage?” I asked. Mick just shrugged and shook his head. I sighed and rubbed my forehead. It looked like I was going to have to run things around here—again. Somehow, I am not surprised by this. And honestly, I don’t care at this point. I think I’m just tired. I just want to go to sleep—again. Excuse me.