One LIfe

Every body’s life was perfect. They all enjoyed it, wanted to live forever and never want to grow old. They thought it would be a miracle. Having to see the power work, having to see everyone all your life and never seeing them gone was a gift. Thinking it would work but might go wrong. I, Evette are one of those victims.

People that tried those have gotten a virus. We were left outside in the dark and cold to be forgotten, to forget that this has ever happened. Now that to face the fact that all those children like me has gotten that and can never be cured, to have anger inside your heart and want revenge is everlasting.

Chapter 1

I have always thought in my mind, why we are all out of the walls. All I did was watch people struggle and try to live. The only person I could trust was my friend Natasha and her little brother Michael.

The thing I did most was my poetry. But as I grew up things got worse. But there were good times and bad times, sometimes even horrible. But I tried to live my life as good as I could.

I always tried to remember what my mother’s name was. I just have a picture of her and what she said to me before she left. I don’t know where she went but those words were always in my head.

Sometimes I would see children and parents die because of their sickness. All I know is that there are three stages to this illness. First you are fine. Able to do things but to know that you have this disease makes it worst because you feel mad and sometimes can’t control it.

The second stage is that you are starting to be weak and feel headaches all the time. Some would get use to the headache that they would forget they have the headache but still alive.

The last one is when you feel like your going to die and can’t go on. You just lay in the street half way dead. Sometimes you end up dead and no one notices but till you start to stink up.

Well I’m just on the first stage so far. When you get to the third you are usually in your late forty’s but other wise you are just sick. Natasha is in the first stage like me and so is Michael. So we have a long way to go.

Every day I hope it’s a better day but it’s just like every other day, sad, dark and cold. We all just try to make it better by trying to keep calm but some people go berserk. Some people would cry for being poor and lonely.

Chapter 2

Three months past. I took care of most of the orphan kids. They would sometimes call me nanny Evette; I always thought it was cute when the kids call me that. I felt like I was their mother but I also felt like why wasn’t there a mother for me either? I always cried about that. Thinking I would never have a mother. Like I was just left behind and forgotten. But that was just when I’m sad inside. Most of the time I feel kind of happy inside.

Well forget about that for now. I have children around.

But at the second stage for the boys get really nasty. They would get to fights and argue a lot and does not know when to stop. I remember when I almost got to a fight with a young man but I kept it cool. He may have slapped me a couple of times but that was all right. I got him somewhere a guy does not want to be hurt.

As I turned to see what all the noise was about I see to fine young men just fighting for no apparent reason. I try to stop them but they just go too far.

" You two stop fighting!!" I screamed. They just ignored me and kept on going. I thought, "no one ignores me!" so I got a thick stick and beat both of them. I guess the smaller one wasn’t fighting. He was defending himself. So I got the bigger one first. He fell unto the ground and was rubbing his leg, the little one kind drops to the ground. I guess he was tired or something I couldn’t really tell. He was kind of laughing too.

" Are you laughing because I hit him?" I said with the stick kind of up. " Hey why did you hit me?" the one on the ground asked me. " Well you guys were fighting and I thought you were beating him so I…hit…you…" I slowed down a little bit thinking were they playing me.

The little one started laughing at me really hard now. I grabbed the little one and started hitting his butt. He was screaming for help but that was pretend. I knew it didn’t hurt him. I started laughing too, the older guy that was on the ground laughing at us too.

The little orphans I was watching over was looking at me and making fun of the two guys. Then I grabbed the older one but he was stronger then me and over powered me. Then he turned me around and tripped me. Then he was going to walk away but I grabbed his pants.

" Hey what you doing?" then I let go. As I was laughing he turned around with his pants still down.

I started screaming and closed my eyes. Then I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was laughing and had his boxers on. He pulled his pants up.

" Hey are the one they call you nanny Evette? Because I don’t remembering you looking this young?" he said and pulled me up. "I’m just seventeen." I said looking him in the eyes. " Oh well just perfect, my name’s Larry and let me guess. Your name is Evette," he said to me. " And that other guy is my brother." He said pointing over at him. "We was just having a little fun but you know." He said.

As I looked at him he had such a proud smile I never notice about these people out here. I was never interested in a guy like this before though. I hope I don’t fall for him or something.

" Well hope to see you later." He said as he left. " Oh Evette, you got you. But you know we’re all going to die soon in a life like this." She said tapping my shoulder. " Don’t say that. You never know. We could be cured." I said just staring at him. " Why are you always so positive?" she said to me looking at me weird. " I don’t know…I don’t know…"

Chapter Three

All I could do was think of Larry. He was in my mind the whole time. I sometimes did things I didn’t even know. Like pour too much milk in a cup that it would over flow. Sometimes I say something stupid. I don’t know but that’s how it was. Oh well. I should love my life as much as I can before it ends. Sometimes when I see him and he looks at me I would turn away really fast. I don’t know what I’m feeling when I’m with him. I feel happy inside like a little girl that would have a lollypop. Well I sometimes feel stupid, me and my weird thoughts.

I was just looking in the sky. Staring into the beautiful clouds. I never thought they were beautiful like this. People would say the stars were beautiful. I guess people just never really looked at the sky much. " Hey." Larry said as he tapped me in the shoulder. I jumped. " Oh you scared me." I said looking stupid. " Oh…sorry. Didn’t mean to do that." He said smiling. " Heh, heh…" I looked down. " Well I know you probably think this is too early but was just wondering if you want to be my girl friend?" I didn’t know what to say. I thought he was crazy.

" Okay." I said. He smiled and took my hand. " Where’re you taking me?" I asked as he was pulling me. " I want to show you something." So we went up a big hill. I saw a grave. I was surprised that he showed me that. I looked at it hard.

" It’s my mother’s grave. She died giving birth to my brother. Some people who loved her blamed him for that but she was in the third stage and was pregnant. Also a single wife." He said. He got down and put a lilac down. "That’s my last one." He said. " I’m so sorry to hear that." I said. " Naw. It’s okay. I come every day to see her. I know she sees me now. And she knows that I have a girlfriend. Heh, heh, She’s proud of me. I can tell." He said and held my hand. I just smiled.

I kind of felt sorry for him. I never saw him this sad before. He always smiled. I know trust me. But even if he does smile and he’s up here. I can tell he’s not really happy.

We were lying on the grass. All I could think about was how we could be together if we were going to die soon. " Hey Larry, how are we going to be together if we aren’t going to have a good life. All of us are already struggling and we aren’t going to have a good life." I said thinking really hard. " Well I wouldn’t worry about that right now. We still young and let’s just have fun while we can." He said and smiled. " Okay!" I said and hugged him.

I just love that he so positive. I mean like he isn’t any thing than any of these guys that I know or any people I know. Most of them are so negative of think of life as we’re going to die soon and all of that crap. Well I’m just happy to be with him. I never thought that I would meet someone like this. I just love staring at him, he so handsome.

Well we kept walking around places. He also showed me place that I’ve never seen either. " Do you go every where and explore?" I asked as we stop for a break. " Um…yeah you can say that." He said. " Evette." He said. " Yeah." I answered. " Do you love me?" he asked. " Well you should know." I said and tapped him on the shoulder. "Of course I do. Why?" I said and smiled. " Well that’s good because you’re my first love and I never felt this way around a girl. Especially to you because you’re not like that girls I’ve dated so far. They either are very perky or like really into their looks and stuff like that." He said and kind of giggled.

I laugh. " So you’re saying I’m an unusual girl?" I asked. " Well yeah. I mean that I’m insulting you but I saying as in a good way. You know?" he said and smiled. " Yeah I know what you saying, I was just doing that to make you think that I was mad. I still love you." I said then I leaned my head on his shoulder.

Chapter Four

I woke up around five just to help the older ladies. Natasha finally wakes. " Rise and shine sleepy head!" I said and laughed. " I had such a good sleep last night." She said to me in relief. " So where did you and Larry go?" she asked. " We went around the place and he showed me some place I’ve never seen before. I was amazed. I just wonder how did he find these things? You know what I’m saying?" I asked Natasha. She just shrugged at me and went back to work. I just kept on thinking.

I didn’t matter to me anymore because I just realize that when you know your dying, have fun and enjoy life. Some people don’t know how happy there are just to have a life and to at least live. But people don’t see that till they lose it.

I love Larry with all my heart and I want him to know it. Deep down inside every body here is happy to at least have a nice life to be in and a pretty nice place to live in. no matter how ghetto we are we have reasons to be mad about things. At the very top is we think we’re like this and don’t have a perfect life.

People who experienced the test suffered and regret deeply. Now they want their old life back. So do I.

Chapter 5

It was a beautiful morning. I stepped outside. The sun hasn’t risen yet, not entirely. I kept looking up just thinking that I love life.

Then out of nowhere I see a nuclear bomb. It shines so bright I couldn’t see any thing. It hit us, all of us. It was going on forever I almost thought I was dead. Then I got knocked out. Everything went out black. I felt like I was in another world when I woke up.

I was all alone, everything was dark, and the sky was red. The place that I use to call home, the place where so many people were happy and not alone, was dead. I kept walking looking for people that was still a live or I at least could help. I saw something shake in a pile of rubble. I stop. I was so scared. Then Natasha pops out. I sigh in relief. " Oh my gosh! Natasha I’m so gad to see you." I said running up to her and gave her a big hug. " Are you okay?" she asked. "Yeah" " are you?" I asked checking Natasha. " No. I don’t think I can go on no more." She said and fell down but I caught her. " No, this can’t be happening." I said and started crying. She’s in the third stage. She started feeling so light in my arms. " Evette…I don’t feel good. It’s getting dark." She said and kept on looking straight. " Don’t leave me Natasha! I don’t want to be alone. Please…" I say but she didn’t answer for a while. I kept on holding her tight. " Evette…tell my brother I love him…hope to see you soon Evette…I love you…" she said slowly and died. " Natasha don’t leave me, when we were kids you said you would always be there for me. You promised and now you’re leaving. Come back!" I cry so hard just screaming her name.

Her body was so light in my arms. I knew she was still beside me. I put her down. And left. " Don’t forget me Natasha. I will always remember you." I said and ran.

I kept on looking around looking for Michael. All I saw was people lying on the ground. They were all half dead just lying there. I wonder what caused this. Then I saw Michael. I ran to him and pulled him up. " Hey…" he said as he opened his eyes. " Michael we’re going to be all right okay. Come on we have to go." I said and held him in one arm. Then the other I was holding Natasha’s necklace. I could tell he caught it too. He was so weak and unstable. I just start crying. I couldn’t find any other way. I just dropped to the ground. Michael lay down next to me. " He saw that I was crying and saw Natasha’s necklace on my other hand. " where’s Natasha Evette?" he asked. " She’s gone Michael." I said and held him tight." What?! Why? This can’t be. No. You’re lying to me." I cried. I held him tighter knowing this would hurt for him to find out. I gave him the necklace.

" If anything happens she will always be there with you okay. Come on let’s go." I said and held his hand and we walked. Most people on the streets were dead and some half breathing. I felt so bad.

Then Michael looked straight ahead and ran. " No! Come back!" I ran after him and caught him. " Where’re you going?" stay with me." I said. " No but look its Natasha." He said and tried to get away. " She’s gone Michael." I said.

Then I saw three beings standing far away. One put their arms out. It was Michael’s dad. They stood so happy, his mother to his right and Natasha looking so beautiful. I cried and let go. He walked to them then he disappeared in the mist.

I cried so hard. I was happy for them because they’re together again.

I was left alone now. All I saw was people lying around. I felt sorry because I couldn’t help them. Then I kind of got tired. So I went to sleep. I lied down on the side of the wall. All I could think about was for this to end right now. So I kept on thinking to myself if this was a dream. I kept on hoping it was a dream, but it wasn’t. I fell asleep.

Chapter 6

I later then woke up by a cry of a little girl. I thought I heard a little girl cry. When I was asleep I heard her cry for her mother. I guess I was just dreaming. Then heard it again.

I started running to the sound. It just kept on getting louder and louder. Then I finally saw the little girl. She was all alone sitting on the ground.

" Hey little girl. Are you okay?" I asked and knelt down towards her. She scooted away from me. " It’s okay I’m not going to hurt you." I said. " I’m all alone! My mommy’s gone!" she cried. Then she put her arms around and cried. " It’s okay." I said. " What’s your name?" " My name is Mary." "Okay my name is Evette. Can you walk?" she nodded. " Okay we’re going to go. We can’t stay here all day. Stop crying and be strong. Be a big girl okay." She nodded and got up and held my hand.

We started walking. Then I saw a building that had lighting in it. I thought maybe there would be something in there. So I ran to it and knocked on the window. Then someone opened the door." Hurry in!" she pulled me in. as I got in a lot of people there was really sick. But some was healthy. " You need to be cured. Come with me." she said. I followed her. " I need a doctor!" she shouted. I saw a man come in. " what does she need?" he asked. " She needs the treatment." She said and left. " Sit down.

What’s your name young girl?" he asked and took my temperature. " My name is Evette." " Okay everything is going to be alright." " Okay" I said as I nodded. Then he told me to relax and injected me with the needle. " You should be fine. Just have plenty of rest." He said and left. " Thanks." I said but I knew he didn’t hear me. I walked around a bit till I saw Larry. I ran to him so fast. And hugged him so hard. " Oh Larry you don’t know what I’ve been through. I missed you so much." I said. " So there you are. I was looking for you too. Where’s Natasha and Michael?" he asked. " Their gone." I said. " Well at least your okay." He said. " Is that little girl okay?" " I think so.

Chapter 7

I woke up. Larry was next to me. I was glad to see him. But I was still sad about Natasha and Michael. I miss them. I wanted to see Michaels smile and hear Natasha’s laugh. It felt good to know they were near by. But I’m trying to move on.

I went and got some food for Larry and I. I waited like thirty minutes. Then I finally got the food. Larry was awake when I came back. He was reading a book, a very old book.

" Hey beautiful. Hungry?" " More than ever!" I gave him the food. We ate together. It was like old times.

" How did you get here?" I asked. " Oh, about that. I saw the nuclear bomb and then everything went blank. Then all of a sudden I was in a room. Every body was running around. Little kids crying. Then I started kind of helping. So here I am. But all I could think about was you so yeah. I’m happy to see you. Just looking at you made my day already." He said. " Wow. You had a big trip." I said and laughed. He did too. " Yup. That’s right. Every day is a trip for me. Then both laughed.

I started doing my old work. Babysitting like a nanny again. But miss it. Every thing started to look good for me. Every body was happy now. Every body is cured. It was a new wonderful life again. The sky actually started to clear up. The sun came out and beautiful clouds formed again. It was nice to feel the sun shine on my face and the wind blow on my back. It was nice to feel Larry’s arm around me and to hear a kid’s laughter.

Then people started rebuilding and repopulating. He had our hardships and good times. It felt good. Love was in the air and happiness was in every body’s face.

I was in the grape field that we grew lots of grapes. It was a great thing that we had. If we didn’t have that I don’t know what we would do. We made so many things with it. Juice, pies, we even ate it like it was. It was wonderful.

I made friends with some other people. They all helped me with all the hardships I had and I helped them. We had each other’s back. We were picking the grapes, like every other day. That was our schedule, I kind of giggle when I think of that. Every morning we do that till ten. We wake up at six in the morning. It may sound tiring but it’s all good. I’m use to waking up early anyways.

I enjoy working with other people. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m happy inside now. Now that everything is better than it use to be but you know.

Now every time I go to sleep I don’t think that I wake up in the morning feeling anger inside. I wake up happy and go to sleep happy.

When I look around I see that we just have made our own city. That makes me happy. It makes me feel good inside.

Chapter 8

A few Years past, Larry and I have been together for like almost three years. I'm happy with him. We may have our arguments but we love each other. Larry took me somewhere, I don’t know where but it looks familiar.

" Larry, where are you taking me?" I ask as he was holding my hand. " Don’t ask. You’ll find out." He took me to a big hill. I saw a grave there. But its really old and worn out. " Oh my gosh, Larry. It’s your mother’s grave, it’s still here, and this place is still here." I said so surprised. " Yeah. I found it again. I didn’t think it would still be here too. But here it is." He said. I walk towards it. I touch it softly. The words on it are still engraved in it. I was so happy to see this here. I turned around and Larry was on his knees. "My jaws drop.

" Will you marry me?" he asked. I cried, and held him so tight. " I do!" I said. " Cool." He said and laughed. We both laughed.

We ran down the hill like we use to do. We ran down so fast holding hands and happy. We told everyone. They were happy for us. " Wow. Young couples. Are you sure you know what you guys are doing?" the lady asked. " Yes. I know." I said and hugged her hard. " Whoa. Watch out. I’m not the young girl I use to be." She said. " Sorry." I laugh.

Chapter 9

We got married the next month. My dress was beautiful and was hand sewed. Larry looked so hansom with his tux. His brother was Best man and my friend Tory was maid of honor.

" You looked so beautiful walking down that isle." Larry said. I just smile. The flower girl was Mary, the little girl I found, and she looked so cute walking down the isle too.

This day was so happy for me. That day I can never forget. Larry and I had our own home. I finally remember what my mother’s name was. It was Rachael. Her last words to me were that " There is always a future to everybody. Even to those who are struggling. Even if you think you’ve failed, there is always a future. Never think that I don’t love you. I will always love you and can never forget you. I can never be ever more proud of you." Then she left. I didn’t realize how much I loved my mother.