Should We?

Jonathans POV
I sat with my head in my hands. I couldnt believe the day had finally come. I rubbed my
hands down my face and looked up and over, my lovely Evangeline was flipping through one of
her many books. This one was a cookbook, she was dog-earing a page. She always did that
when she found one she wanted to try someday, I smiled at her optimism, and we both knew we
werent going to make it out. Especially not now, but every time she chose to read those types
of books, she always marked for the future, just in case.
Music was softly playing, we had electricity for a few things, one of which we chose was
a stereo so as not to go mad of silence. Evan had really done a good job of making sure we had
everything we needed in here. Oh yeah, here, was one of those metal warehouses that was all
one room except for a bathroom and a closet, and had two big industrial lights and about three
power outlets. My dad had it to work on cars, but when he passed of a heart attack, we cleaned
it out. Evan and I figured we could use it as something for our children one day, guess that was
out of the option now.
I truly observed my surroundings, I felt I should do this more seeing as I didnt know how
much more time we had left. As said before, we had a stereo with standard sized speakers,
there were three large stacks of CDs next to it. I always thought Evan was wasting her money
on CDs when you could simply download music, but she liked having physical copies,
something to hold on to. Came in handy now I guess, at the moment Melanie Martinezs album
Cry Baby was playing. Mine and Evans bed was in the far right corner of the space, a few
random blankets and pillows made nicely on it. We had two other beds on the other side of the
room also made up with blankets and pillows, just in case someone came across the place and
needed our help.
In the front right corner, we had our entertainment area. It was nothing more than a
couple plastic lawn chairs, and massive stacks of books. Again, the books were thanks to
Evangeline. In the front left corner where the closet was, we had all our food and cooking things.
There was one of those plug-in single stove burners and small and large plastic tubs filled with
things like pots and pans, utensils, bowls and cups. In the closet we kept our food and water, or
we used to.
You see that was our issue, wed ran out of food a couple days ago. Nowwe were
down to our last bottle of water. Wed been pushing ourselves to wait, make it last as long as
possible and ignore the thirst. Evan and I both knew our end was nearing, and there wasnt
much we could do about it. I walked away from the closet with our life reserves and sat down in
one of the lawn chairs next to Evangeline, and scooted it close to her. I looked over her shoulder
and played with her hair, she smiled but kept going as if I wasnt there. New England Style
Clam Chowder, the text read. Evangeline was about to flip the page right when I grabbed it and
turned the corner to mark it.
Silly, I already know how to make clam chowder, thats easy, Evan said in a high
pitched teasing voice, she poked my cheek and shook her head.
Well, I know you know. Youre an amazing cook My Dear, it was just a reminder of how
much I like it, and I did, it was one of my favorite foods and Evan made it so well. Im sure
Evans version is way better than some cookbook could instruct her to make. Kind of made me
discouraged, she would never cook for me again. She loved to cook, and I loved to watch her
cook. Of course eating the food was always a treat, but she always lit up whenever she was in
the kitchen. It was her realm, and her excitement when she made something new was the most
adorable thing ever. I looked away from her, saddened by the fact Id never get to see her in
such a state ever again.
What is it Jonathan? She asked me, worry plastered all over her face. She grabbed my
hand and looked at me intently, waiting for me to spill my thoughts. And I wanted to, I wanted to

relay to her just how worried I was, I wanted to tell her that I could see the effects from lack of
food already showing in both of us, I wanted to tell her that we needed to face the fact we were
virtually out of time and we needed to make plans.
Nothing My Love, I just miss your cooking is all, I replied planting a quick kiss on her
lips with a smile. She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it, and gave me a
sad smile back.
Oh just be patient Darlin, youll get to have it again soon enough! I promise, when
things get better, I will make your favorite dishes first thing. Okay? I laughed softly at both her
optimism, and at simply how cute she was. Thats why I didnt tell her, I didnt want to crush her
hope, I didnt want to worry her and turn her optimistic smile into a frown of realization. I nodded,
then went back to playing with her hair. Shed had bleached her natural color out of her hair and
put in a pastel pink color, it held onto her hair well, but what grew in was a dark brown. The two
colors contrasted well, the dark and light both reflecting onto her made her hazel eyes stand out
beautifully. Her nose was pierced with a stud that shined in the light. She had a petite frame,
and fair skin, her whole face went red when she blushed.
Evangeline, I love you, I said, turning her face to mine and looking in her eyes sweetly.
And bam, there she was, my cherry-faced beauty. She looked away, it was so amazing how she
still got shy and looked away when I was sweet to her.
I-I love you too Jonathan, and what did I tell you about calling me Evangeline? she
scolded, hiding her face. I sighed over-exaggeratedly and rolled my eyes.
Dont call me Evangeline, its too fancy and girly blah blah blah, I mocked in a horrible
rendition of her voice. She scoffed before laughing, and setting her book down just to pick up
another one. This one was an actual reading book though, so I let her be. I had my own stack of
books, well, notebooks. I kept them in various places, not for any secretive reason, just that I
was not near as organized as my young wife. I grabbed one and started jotting down facts and
statistics about our predicament.
Humans can last anywhere from 3-10 days without water, depending on conditions.
Evan and I havent had water in three days, but were still doing decent.
We have another week, tops.
Food has been out for five days.
Humans can survive without food for three weeks (this is of course cancelled out by the
fact we have no water).
We have toilet water...gross.
Even with the alternative water source, we would only have another two weeks without
something to eat.
Whats outside the warehouse?
Evans POV
I switched out my cookbook for my reading book as Jon went to occupy himself
elsewhere. I was entranced by the ever-moving plot. Ironic, as it was set in a futuristic world that
was somewhat post-apocalyptic. In the book, only a select few who lived in a giant glass dome
had oxygen, and everyone had to pay to breathe, literally. Very intense plot there, and the
characters were very relatable. I was almost finished with it, and didnt plan to stop until I did,
but Jon came up to me again. I put my book down, marking my page, and sighed at him
exaggeratedly.
Jonathan, what could possibly be so important? I have two chapters left in my book and
Beas parents just got shot and killed. I need to finish this so I can get to-, I ranted. Jonathan
stopped me mid-sentence, his urgent tone shocked me.

Evan, whats going on outside the warehouse? Do we know? Were you told when you
were informed that we should come here? He pressed. My eyes went wide, where did this
come from? I shook my head and took his hand and pulling it close to me.
Oh Honey, no I wasnt told. I have no idea whats happened to our world, I replied, but
it wasnt enough for Jon.
Evan, Darling, please? Just go over it, really think back to the call. Did your cousin hint
at anything, did you hear anything in the background? Its super important, he added at the
end. I didnt see what use it was. I asked him to give me a second to really recall, it was almost
two years ago, but I remembered it crystal clear. It was the day the world ended, who wouldnt
remember?
I was lying in bed resting peacefully, Jon laid behind me with an arm loosely around my
waist. I was having a random dream when I was awoken abruptly by my cell phone ringing and
buzzing on the nightstand next to me. I sat up with a gasp, and picked up my phone. The caller
ID said it was my cousin, Jeb. He worked for some fancy government facility, and I hadnt heard
from him in months. The time said it was 12:30 am, I sighed and clicked the answer button.
What do you need, Jeb? I asked sleepily.
I dont need anything but for you to pack up and get out somewhere safe, he
whispered. He spoke quickly, and urgently. I was taken aback by what hed said.
Excuse me?
No time for excuse me, he said, but was then interrupted by a crash in the
background, just get out to that shed thing Uncle Jason willed to you, thatd be a good place,
and stay in there no matter what.
No matter what? Jebediah, what on earth is going on?
Look, I cant tell you what, but weve been working on something massive. And it could
possibly destroy everything, or start our earth anew. We are going to release warning to the
public in 10 hours, but I wanted to give you and Jon a head start. Go and buy anything you
could need, lots and lots of food and water, perhaps clothing, generators, I dont know. Just be
prepared. Oh! Make sure you have a radio, and absolutely do not come out until youre told to.
Okay?
Iokay, I replied. I hung up, while we had talked, I heard lots of yelling voices,
crashes, etc. Just typical sounds of chaos, nothing extraordinary. I woke Jonathan, explained
everything, and we did as Jeb told us. We went a 24-hour supermarket and stocked up on
anything we could need, and a few extra things too. Then we drove to where the warehouse
was. I expected my cousin to come join us after a while, but he never did. Our radio hadnt
crackled once. Like Jeb said, roughly 8 hours later, we heard various signs of chaos. Jonathan
and I held onto each other tightly in the corner farthest from the door. It sounded terrible, like the
world was ending, and I guess it was.
No Love, nothing stuck out. There was crashing, and yelling, and Jeb was whispering.
But any of that couldve been from a bunch of different situations, I answered his pleading
gaze. His eyes fell when I did, he squeezed my hand tightly. He took a deep breath, before
meeting my eyes again.
My Dearest, I thinkI think we should go see for ourselves whats out there, he said
quietly. I tore my hand from his and jumped out of my seat. I stared at him with wide-doe eyes. I
couldnt believe what he was saying to me. Go outside? No, not until were told to. Thats what
Jeb had said.
Are you crazy, Jon? Are you serious right now?! We have no idea what is out there, but
it cant be anything good. Nothing good at all. Jeb was scared out of his wits when he made that
call, and thats something coming from him. Also, do you not remember? He told us stay in here
until we were radioed that it was safe. Its not safe, Jonathan! I wrapped my arms around
myself, and tried breathing deeply. I was starting to hyperventilate, and it needed to stop. My

head felt like it was swimming while bombs went off simultaneously. Having anxiety isnt
necessarily good in what I can only assume is an apocalyptic-situation.
I tried grounding myself. Grounding is where you find five things you can see, four you
can hear, three you can touch, two you can smell, and then you take one big breath. It wasnt
working though. Jonathan walked toward me slowly with his hands up in the I mean no harm
fashion, I gave up on my technique and just hugged him tight. I buried my face in the crook of
his neck, and he ran his hand soothingly up and down my back softly. He spoke to me in calm
and rational tones.
Evan, it may not be safe out there, but were just wasting away in here. We need food,
and water. We have one 16 ounce water bottle left, and then its only a matter of days until were
corpses on this very floor, he said. I closed my eyes against the image of our dead bodies,
decaying in this warehouse for someone to stumble upon. I didnt want him to be right, and
maybe he wasnt. The radio could spark any day. We could go out, die, and then the next day
help would arrive.
But Im scared. Im really scared of what could be out there, what could happen to us, I
whispered.
I know you are, and Lovely, I am too. Weve got no other choice.
Yes we do, we can sit in here, and wait. We can make the water last a few more days,
and after those days we have a few more days without. Help will arrive by then, I know it, as I
said this, Jon pulled back and gripped my shoulders.
Evangeline, you dont. You dont know it, neither of us know anything except that were
starving and thirsty. We dont know anything except that without food and water, we are going to
perish very soon.
Exactly! We know that Jonathan, we know what our life is in here. Were safe, out there,
we know nothing. We dont know if the air we breathe in is toxic, we dont know if there could be
some mutated being hiding around a dark corner, we dont know if the water is clean, Jonathan,
there will be no stores to grab food from and we do not know how to hunt our own! He sighed,
and put his head in his hands. His reddish-brown hair had grown just slightly past his ears, and
quite frankly it looked better that way to me, but right now it was everywhere, sticking up in
random spots. In another situation, that would have been cute, but Jon was always well kept.
The fact he was so disheveled now, told me things were indeed going downhill. He took his
head out of his hands, and looked at me. His green eyes looked so tired and desperate, I
stepped and wrapped my arms around his solid frame, this time soothing him, he squeezed
back so hard I almost couldnt breathe. His eyes met mine, and he stepped back.
Jonathans POV
Look, I want to go outside. Im tired of being in here and doing nothing but wasting
away. I want to know whats going on, and I want to provide for us the way a man should. You
dont have to come with me, if youre scared, you can stay here and Ill simply gather things for
us, I explained calmly. She gave me an almost hurt expression, had I insulted her somehow?
And I dont mean to say youre weak, youre not. Youre so strong, but everyone has
fears and I understand and I dont want to push you into it. It probably is very scary out there,
but I can handle it for us. I have to, Im not gonna watch you waste away like this, I added. She
glared at me with such ferocity my heart stuttered. Wed had fights, but she had never ever
looked at me like this before.
You think Im gonna let you go out there alone? You think I would just say okay to my
husband going out into the unknown with no one by his side? Im not like that Jonathan, and you
know it. I would perish of guilt if anything happened to you out there, and as you know,
something probably will, she said seriously. She was right, I knew she wasnt like that. I knew
shed sooner end her own life before letting me risk mine on my own. But she wasnt being
swayed to go out there, and we needed rations.

Evan, we-, I started.

Jonathan, how about... Okay fine, we wait a few days until we need our last water. We
drink it, we wait one more day, and then...then if help hasnt come we can go outside. Can we
do that? Will you compromise with me on this? She asked, her eyes begging. I let out a loud
breath, and considered. The longer we waited, the weaker we would be, that could be a
downside as outside the warehouse was a vast unknown that we needed to be ready for. But...if
it got her out willingly, it could be worth it. I didnt really want her out there, but we needed both
of us gathering materials.
Okay, we can do that, I replied, kissing her forehead. After we figured that out, we
snuggled up in our bed and just talked about how things were before this disaster. Soon enough
she fell asleep. I slipped from her embrace and went to our pantry, and got out the last bottle of
water. I couldnt play this waiting game, help wasnt coming, but death was. I walked over to the
bed, and glanced at Evan. She was sleeping peacefully, it seemed. She was becoming more
and more fragile by the day, weaker and weaker. I couldnt stand to watch the love of my life like
this. Not only that but...as selfish as it was, I wanted to go outside. Before this disaster, I was a
man of many activities. I wasnt a hunter, Evan was right, but I was active outdoors. And being
tucked in this warehouse for almost two years was wearing on me heavily. I needed fresh air,
and I needed to run and have something to do except wait wait wait.
I looked at my sleeping beauty one more time, and promised Id be back with what we
needed. I drank my half of what was left of our water, and set the bottle by our bed. It was
refreshing, and exactly what I needed. I grabbed my notebook that was on the floor, and wrote
her something nice to wake up to and hopefully to ease her worry. I started getting ready,
putting on layers and boots, also supplies to gather what we needed such as containers and a
few of our knives. I was ready, and I was scared. But I was also the man of the house, and I
needed to act like it.
I unlocked the door, and put my hand on the handle. I was about to open the door when I
heard something get knocked over.
Evans POV
I woke up with a start, and realized Jonathan wasnt next to me. Immediately, my eyes
found the half empty water bottle and I realized what he was doing. How dare he? He said...he
promised we could stay longer. He said he wouldnt go out on his own. I got up and kicked the
bottle childishly, thats when I noticed, he hadnt left yet. He was at the door, and he was looking
right at me.
I was half relieved, he wasnt out there all alone in the middle of the night. But the fact
that he was here meant that I could express my feelings, and oh my did they boil and bubble.
Jonathan. What are you doing? I asked, tucking my long hair behind my ear. I walked
up to him slowly. Was the door open? I couldnt quite tell, and I didnt want to get too close if it
was.
Love, Im sorry. But I cant wait around anymore, I want to go outside, and I want to do
this for us. You stay My Darling, and I promise I will be just fine. Ill be back soon and safely, he
reasoned. I just shook my head, and walked quickly up to him. How could he not see, how much
he and his safety meant to me?
Its not safe out there. You cant promise anything because you dont know whats
outside that door! I shouted in his face, trying to get it through his head. Suddenly, he grabbed
my face in his hands and kissed me hard before turning back to the door.
He twisted the handle, I screamed and grabbed at his hands, trying to stop him from
pulling it open. I tried to push my weight against the door, but it was too late. Just like that, the
door was open, my fear was realized, and we were going to die that night.
And then, the radio crackled.
THE END