Entry #28

Hope Unplugged
by Catherine Vibert


God it was hot.

“They don’t have any medicine.”

“What are we going to do, don’t they have anything at the mission?”

“Nothing there or anywhere.”

Suni eyed her son sleeping so peacefully in her arms. The soft pink of his cheeks lifted in a dream smile. Her heart sank… if only she could keep him in that state.

But hope was lost when the grid went down, two years now.

A rogue tear fell onto his little face and his eyes shot open.

“Mommy, what is that light?” Lil Ed pointed to the red tinged thunderhead.

“What do you see my darling?”

“Wings Mommy, coming closer.”

Saul prodded the horse and the wheels jerked to a roll. Ed’s sweet face morphed into an anguished moan. Suni held him tighter as Saul reached over and pulled his family close.

Lil Ed stared at the clouds darkening the sky. He bolted upright, putting up his hand as if to ward something off. He screamed. The horse stumbled, struggling to regain footing on the crumbling highway.

“What is it Ed?” Suni’s stomach was in knots, he was so hot.

And then he was calm.

“Ok, I’ll come,” Ed wiped his mother’s tear, smiled, then his body slackened, falling into her arms.

“No, you can’t have him! Let go!” Suni screamed to no one.

Lightning struck the ground and the horse reared. Ed didn’t budge.

Rain and tears began to fall and took the heat from his cheeks.