It took me forever to write this!! be kind to my baby.
New Delhi, India
The sun was setting over the horizon. I was standing outside the front door, taking in the beauty of it. At least the sun and sky could not be infected; they would never turn into bloodthirsty monsters. No, nature would always be beautiful.
"Come, Vatsala. Hurry."
My father stood in the doorway, holding yet another box full of our belongings and beckoning me to follow him inside.
"One last look at the sky, father," I pleaded.
"You will see the sky again when the epidemic is over. Come now. Get your things and take them down to the shelter at once."
I didn't want to leave the doorstep. The sky was now burning a deep orange, the exact color of my mother's favorite dress. I hade admired that dress ever since I was little, and she had promised to give it to me one day.
"She wants to see Pritam," my younger brother chided. He had appeared in the doorway as well, looking for any other boxes that needed to be carried down to the shelter. I gave him a scathing look before my father could look back at me. My father searched my eyes for a moment, and then turned back to the boxes, shaking his head.
"Hush, Madhev. She would never risk infecting us all."
He hoisted the box more firmly on his chest and strode away down the hall toward the library where the entrance to our shelter was located. My brother looked at me, staring intently into my eyes. It seemed like he could see straight into my soul; see what my intentions were.
My resolve was weakening. I didn't want to infect my family, but I had to see Pritam. I would not let this epidemic tear us apart. While my family was preoccupied with getting the shelter ready, I grabbed a mouth-and-nose mask and quietly slipped out the door. No one would miss me; I would only be gone a few minutes.
When I reached the town square, it was in utter chaos. Buildings were already on fire and mothers with children were running and screaming from a killer they could not see; could not run from. I searched frantically, trying to find evidence that my boyfriend had at least been here. I heard my name called over the roar of the turmoil, and looked up to find Pritam standing on top of an over-turned bus; his arms stretched out to me.
"Pritam!" I screamed.
"You shouldn't have come," he said as he pulled me up to him.
"I'm not leaving without you," I cried, clutching to him tightly. He held me close, rubbing his strong arms up and down my back.
"Your father would never let me into the shelter, Vatsala. And he is right. There is no cure for this disease; he wouldn't want to risk infecting the family. Go. Go with your family and live through this."
"I don't want to lose you!"
"I'll still be here when you come out, Vatsala. We can be together again."
I cried and hugged him tightly. He was right.
"Our love can live through anything."