Chapter 2: Before the Apocalypse (1)
I was looking at the clock on my computer and sighed.
"Just five minutes left." I murmured to myself.
I was only waiting for my shift to end. I was a normal twenty-five year old office worker working eight hours a day, five days a week. I was just above the minimum wage earner and my salary just helps me for ends to meet. To top it all off, I was a single mother of an eight year old daughter.
"I need to go pick up Cindy at school before buying something to give to my brother and his family." I muttered.
I looked at my cellphone and looked at my brother Paul's text message. I read it for number of times now since I received it last night.
*Come to our family gathering for once. Dad would love to see you. I am sure that mom would love to see you too. – Love, Paul.*
I sighed once again. I do not have a good relationship with my mother since I got pregnant at seventeen. The father of my child was my childhood friend and sweetheart, Gray. We became couple just after junior high school and they dated until they entered senior high school. We only did it just once in the heat of the moment and did not think of using any protection. When I knew I was pregnant, I felt scared with the idea of another life growing inside of me and what my parents would say, and so told Gray at once. He told me that everything will be all right, but after a week he just vanished without even saying goodbye. I only just knew that Gray's family decided to migrate to another country and did not even tell me even until he left me.
I remembered how I cried every day since Gray abandoned me. My mother scolded me since then and I became a depressed pregnant teenager. Because of that, Paul took me in under his wing. He was just starting to work in his first job after graduating, but he was happy to take care of me. Because of my brother I was able to finish high school and was able to get a two year course in college. I was able to land a job at this small company because of the help of my brother.
"If not for Paul, I will not go there." I sighed.
Paul was having a formal family dinner tonight because he was going to introduce his long time girlfriend and now fiancée Alison to our parents. I loved the couple, because of their help I was able to raise Cindy with ease.
I looked at the clock on my computer once again and saw that it was time for me to clock out. I saved and closed all of my work before shutting down the computer in front of me.
"You are early to clock out today." My friend and seatmate Eden said. "You usually work overtime."
"I need to go to my brother's house tonight." I replied. "He is going to introduce Alison to our parents."
"You are going to see your mother? Is that okay?" Eden asked.
Eden was someone I instantly bonded with when I started in this small company. She thought me all the things I needed to know, and we become close friends ever since. I had told her my family circumstances and my not so good relationship with my mother.
"I had no choice, Paul invited me." I replied while putting my things inside my bag. "If it is for Paul, then I can stand all of my mom's retort."
"I am sure your mother will come thru in time. She may have been just disappointed because of your teenage pregnancy." Eden tried to comfort me. "You were a promising student back then as you have said."
It is true that I was a top student back in my school days. I would have chosen a reputable university with a good degree if not for my untimely pregnancy.
"It has been eight years now Eden. I do not want to hope even further." I replied with a sad face. Eden looked apologetic to have even mentioned the thing about my mother. "Do not worry, I am used to it. Well, I need to get going.
I got my bag and walked towards the elevator.
"Take care on the road okay." Eden said.
"Thanks." I waved goodbye and continued my way.
**
I drove to the school's driveway and go straight to the entrance. Many children were seen walking towards their school buses. If I were not here to pick up my daughter, Cindy would have taken the school bus to our apartment by herself. I have taught my daughter to be independent at an early age because we live alone. We live in a small apartment that was just the right size for the both of us.
I saw Cindy in no time. I stopped the car for her to climb inside.
"Hey mommy." Cindy greeted with a smile.
"Hi my baby girl. How was your day?" I asked.
"It was good." Cindy smiled and took out a piece of paper. "I got an A+ in our test today." She smiled brightly waiting for a compliment.
"Wow, that's great!" I complimented her with a bright smile. "I am really proud of my little girl."
"Thanks." Cindy looked satisfied with my compliment.
I started to drive away. I looked at my daughter and smiled. Cindy was starting to grow up and her features are starting to be more like her father's every single day. I had dark black hair and brown eyes while my daughter had light brown hair and green eyes. Gray had dark blonde hair and green eyes, so Cindy's features are more similar to him.
I sighed just by thinking of the one that abandoned us in our time of need. It has been eight years and there was no word from him. I have stopped hoping to see him again.
"Are we going straight to Uncle Paul's house?" Cindy asked.
"Not yet." I replied. "Let us go to the grocery store to buy some fruits to give them first. Then we will drive to your uncle's house."
"Is grandma and grandpa going to be there?" Cindy asked in curiosity.
"Yes." I sighed gently. "Uncle Paul will introduce Aunty Alison as his wife to be, so they will be there."
"I hope grandma won't get mad at you again." Cindy said with a frown.
I was thankful that my mother did not show any animosity towards Cindy at the least. My father adores my daughter so much and my mother at least loves her.
"I'm okay, don't worry about me." I patted my daughter's head. "Well look, here we are."
I pulled into the grocery's driveway and parked my car in the parking area. We got off and walked towards the entrance of the grocery store.
When we were walking hand in hand, I saw a teenage boy shivering by the side. He looked like a homeless boy. The boy had platinum blonde hair close to silver, and his eyes were… red?
I rubbed my eyes thinking that I maybe just seeing things and looked again. When I looked again, I saw that the boy's eyes were now reddish brown.
'I was seeing things like I thought.' I told myself.
I saw the teenage boy does not have any shoes and was only wearing a thin t-shirt and pants in this cold weather. Autumn was in its last days and winter was just here. I felt pity seeing the boy, thinking that when I was in the boy's age, I was also experiencing such difficulties. I walked towards the boy.
"Do you need help?" I asked the teenage boy. "I know a shelter where you can spend the night while the weather is starting to get cold."
The teenage boy looked at me straight into my eyes with a blank expression without replying. After a while he shook his head without talking. He then stared at a distance again, not even minding my presence.
"But you are going to freeze here." I said but the boy did not look my way again.
I sighed and took off the jacket I was wearing.
"Here, use this." I put my jacket over the boy's body. I also took off my boots and started to put it on the boy's feet. "It looks like we have the same size, that's a relief. At least this can keep you warm."
"Why are you doing this?" The teenage boy started to talk. He looked at me with a blank face devoid of emotion. "Why are you helping me?" He asked.
"I just cannot pass a young boy that needed help." I smiled at him. "If you do not want to go with me, at least go to the shelter. I am sure they will be giving warm food and a place you can sleep. It is just two blocks from here." I point the way.ssssss
I stood up and took Cindy's hand once again and walked towards the grocery's entrance.
"Why did you give your shoes and jacket mommy?" Cindy asked with a confused look.
"Because that young boy needs it more than I do, baby." I replied. "I can buy new ones from the grocery, but the young boy does not have money to even buy food for himself. I hope he goes to the shelter." I looked back at the boy. He was staring into the distance once more.
Cindy pulled my hand and stopped. "Wait mommy, I am going to give him the apple that I did not eat at school. He needs it more than me."
"Okay." I giggled seeing my daughter's kind gesture.
Cindy trotted towards the young boy and gave him her apple and trotted back. The young boy looked at our way and mouthed a thank you. That time I thought I saw the young boy's eyes were red once more, but I just passed it as the lighting of the sunset.