AARON I stopped as a wave of exhaustion washed over me. My fingers went to the bridge of my nose and pinched. There would be no time for a proper goodbye. I pushed myself up, brushing the damp earth from my knee, and went back to the car. Lucas was in the back, staring out the window toward Ronan’s body. In just a few days my son had seen so many horrors. I wondered what it would do to him later. If we survived, if the world ever became normal again, would he be able to live in it? Elena was sleeping in her seat, her head against the glass. She hadn’t moved since the bombardment ended. I had tried to wake her. Nothing changed. I knew that wouldn’t last. I knew I would lose her too. My throat tightened and tears fell down my cheeks. I looked away from her and started the drive system. The car began to move down the road again. I could hear Lucas shifting behind me. I wiped my face, pulling my shirt collar up to my eyes. “Daddy, when’s Mommy going to wake up?” The tears threatened to come again. I took a long breath and turned to him. A weak smile crossed my face. “She’s very tired, buddy.” “You look tired too, Daddy.” I nodded. My eyelids were heavy. “I am. Hey, how about we all take a nap while the car drives?” Lucas nodded his small head. He climbed up into his seat and curled his legs under him. I hunched over and sat next to him, pulling a blanket from the floor to cover him. He tucked his arm under his head. My fingers ran through his hair. Slowly, as his eyes began to close, mine did too. “I love you, Lucas.” **** Lucas was screaming in pain as he ran through the woods. Branches reached out and cut his skin. They caught on his clothes and pulled him back. It made it easier for his pursuers to catch him. All the while he screamed for me, screamed for his daddy. His little voice shook with fear until a gloved hand covered his mouth. I felt my body twitch. I tried to push against sleep, tried to swim back to being awake, but my eyes wouldn’t open. It was so hard to wake. It would be easier to let the dream take me. I knew if I waited long enough, it would stop. “Daddy.” A small hand pushed my shoulder. “Daddy, I’m thirsty.” I forced my eyelids apart. My head felt huge as I turned to see Lucas. “I’m thirsty, Daddy.” I pushed myself upright in the seat. The car was stopped. I didn’t know for how long. Outside the windows were trees and a cloudy sky. I looked at the main display. My eyes fought to focus on the map there. After minutes of struggling with my blurry vision, I pulled myself closer by the front seat. The picture cleared as my eyes began to work. I saw we were stopped north of Redmont. I also saw the navigation lock had been released. “One second, buddy,” I mumbled. The words scraped my dry throat. I tapped the screen and selected my in-laws’ address. A warning window appeared. My head and shoulders dropped. The notification said there wasn’t enough charge to get to their home in Ravenport. The car would only make a little over seventy percent of the way. I slid to the floor between the two front seats. I was so tired. I lifted my head and looked at Elena. She was in the exact same position as when I left the front to lie down with Lucas. Her skin was blue. Her chest was still. Tears began to seep from my eyes. My hand slipped over hers. She was so cold. I tried to slide my fingers between hers, but they resisted. I began to shake. My mouth moved without sound. “I can’t do this without you.” I stopped, unable to breathe for a moment. Then air rushed back into my lungs. I pushed up to my knees and pressed my forehead to the side of hers. My lips were inches from her ear. I whispered, “I don’t want to do this without you.” I kissed the side of her head. Her hair shifted under my lips. “I love you. I’ve always loved you and no one else.” “Daddy?”My vision blurred again from the water in my eyes. Another wave of exhaustion fell over me. I turned to look at Lucas. His little eyes were wide. I wiped my eyes. “I’ll get you that drink now, buddy.” I pointed to the back seat. “Do you remember how to fold down the seat?” Lucas nodded quickly. “You’re my big little man, aren’t you?” I said. “Can you open it up for me?”