Our Final Days

Everything was only ever desolate and lonely, the only souls left were me and the nature around me. Had I the courage to kill myself I would have by now but unfortunately I could never go through with it. So I continue to survive and fight for my life despite the hopelessness that consumes.

I often look back at old photo albums I have from my life when everyone was around. They were filled with photos of me and my boyfriend and family at celebrations and just random silly occasions. Even some of me and my students for graduation pictures and classroom pizza parties.

But then I remember that I need to eat and go hunting and gather what supplies are left. I stood up closing the photo album and putting it in my bag stretching 

“Hah, what am I gonna do about that pack of wolves” I had taken to talking to myself in hopes that the silence would not consume me.

“Well, nothing to be done if I don't have a way to defend myself against them” sure I had a pistol but only 4 bullets not nearly enough for a pack of 8 wolves.

    Grabbing my backpack and double-checking I had my knife. I left the small house I made as my shelter for the last 2 weeks. There was only wildlife and greenery that was once a small town and only broken structures and homes that were built to be sturdy. Walking into the forest I followed the trail of signs I carved into the trees for my guide to finding the traps I created. 

    I pushed some bushes aside and saw several makeshift traps still ready to be triggered and untouched. A sigh left my lips as I walked past the bushes 

“Dammit, the animal population is only diminishing in the past weeks” I couldn't even muster any frustration to use this by now.

“Well guess I am eating apples again for lunch” I could only rely on the natural grown fruit and vegetables that grew in abundance around here.

    I walked a bit further in to at least fill my water canister kneeling down by the small pond of water and dipping my bottle in the water. Though when I heard growling fear instantly gripped me and I froze. Every instinct told me to run but I resisted and turned my head to see a big grey wolf baring its fangs at me with a low rumbling growl. 

    I had my gun but doubted I would have enough time to grab it before it charged at me so I stayed still sure if I moved I would die. A part of me told me to accept it and just die but the stubborn part of me that was keeping me alive thought desperately for a way to escape this situation. But when a sudden gunshot went off right behind me I flinched sure I was dead.

    However, I felt no pain nor was I touched at all as I heard a whine leave the wolf as it fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Instead, I saw the silhouette of a person, something I knew had to be a hallucination. But when words suddenly filled my mind I froze for another reason 

“Mr. Hubbard?” no had called me that in 10 years not after the disease took out most of the population including my entire family and loved ones. 

    I stood up and turned to get a better look at this person 

“No it can’t be can it?” the person seemed just as confused and shocked as me. Upon getting a closer look it was a male who looked around 30 and rather fit with his lean body and broad shoulders. I didn't recognize this person but clearly, they recognized me 

“Who are you? And how do you know my name? Wait, no better question is are you real?” the younger male instantly smiled wide and tears came to his eyes 

“Thank god I am not the only one left, I am real I swear” he spoke with a desperate tone wanting me to believe him. So I stepped closer and tears came to eyes as well a smile as equally wide as the males

“I can't believe this is real, I thought I was the only one left. I haven't seen a person in 6 years” the person before me seemed astonished 

“Wait, you know how many years it's been?” I wasn't surprised it was easy to lose track of time when no one was there to remind you that time was even passing.

“I have kept a calendar marked for every day for the past 10 years. Wait, we're getting off track how do you know my name, especially my teacher title.

    The young male had stopped crying but the smile never left his lips “it's me, Liam, you were my 12th-grade teacher remember? I was in the class photo for 2021” I racked my brain to try to remember him. It was hard to remember a singular student after so many years, I spoke suddenly having an idea

“ I am sorry I don't remember but I have a photo album of all my graduating classes if you come back to my shelter you can find yourself and I may remember” Liam nodded enthusiastically 

“Yeah, I would love to go with you. I have been alone for such a long time. Oh and we can take this wolf back as well for some meat I can't help but notice your lack of empty traps” I wiped my tears away and grabbed my canister I had dropped 

“Thank you, Liam”

    We both worked together to carry the wolf's lifeless body back to my shelter. It was heavy as it had clearly been eating good for a while now but that just meant more meat for me, no us. When we finally got back with no trouble we dropped the corpse in the bathtub and both sighed 

“Man had I not been there you would be dead by now and I would truly be alone” I turned to him and smiled something I hadn't done in a long time 

“Yeah I really owe you, I thought it was safe since I haven't seen the pack venture out that far from their territory. But it was strange how the wolf was alone” Liam stepped out of the bathroom and I followed sitting down beside him on the couch 

“The best explanation I can think of is that the wolf was kicked out, probably lost in a fight with the alpha. Though that is lucky for us I don't have enough bullets to fight off an entire pack” that was more than likely the case.

    I suddenly remembered the original plan and quickly stood 

“Sorry I almost forgot let me grab the album” I went over to my bag and grabbed the binder with many laminated pictures in it

“It's okay I am just surprised you still have something so personal I lost all my belongings in a flood and was left with only canned goods and water” I sat back on the couch and opened the binder flipping through the pages to my graduation pictures 

“Well I have had to be extra careful I admit but it helps to remind me of times when I still had everyone with me” I found a photo with the captions 2021 graduating class and pulled it out 

“Here, point out who you are” Liam nodded and grabbed the photo looking at it intently.

    A laugh escaped his lips “I haven't seen a photo of me in years. It's kind of weird to see me so young and surrounded by people” he pointed at a tall male with brown hair and brown eyes holding up a graduation certificate with a bright smile in the very back. I looked at thinking back to when I taught his class 

“Hmm I think I remember, I used to tutor you a lot right? You would always raise your hand in class and ask questions” Liam smiled a bright smile like in the photo

“Yes exactly, I had a hard time at first with your biology class but the more you helped me the more I fell in love with biology and became a huge nerd for it.

    I laughed fondly remembering the good days 

“Yeah I remember now, you were complaining about how stupid it was but when I taught you so you could understand you began to ask questions all the time in love with the subject” Liam laughed as well 

“You were a really good teacher, how could I not fall in love with it” I couldn't help but pull Liam into a hug. It had been such a long time that I felt human contact I couldn't hold back the tears. 

Liam didn't complain only smiled and returned the hug staying still “from now on we won't be alone we can survive together and create a life for ourselves” his words brought more comfort than I had ever felt before. I pulled away from the hug and smiled in return “yes we won't ever be alone again” from then on Liam and I lived together helping each other survive. Before I could never smile but with Liam, he would always find a silver lining despite how hungry we were or how desperate a situation ever got. 

We never got to sick or hurt but sometimes we got the stomach flu but luckily there were plenty of natural remedies for that. Everything was perfect once we decided to survive and live together until our final day on this desolate and lonely planet.