Is There A Place For Me?
Prologue
As the boat moved ever further from the land, the remaining Mall Rats and their friends looked back at the fading city shoreline.
"Our home is gone," Salene said, tearfully, "Everything is gone!"
"But we've still got each other," Amber replied, gazing up, adoringly, at Jay.
"And who knows where we'd be without each other," Jay murmured, gazing back at Amber.
"Ugh, sickening!" Lex muttered, turning away from the happy couple to see Trudy staring at them and fighting to keep the tears away; she caught his glance and turned her attention to Brady.
"At least we have something to thank the virus for, then," Lottie piped up, "If the virus had never happened, we might never have met."
Each of the Mall Rats then looked from one to the other, thinking this through. Amber's gaze travelled in turn over her son, Jay, Trudy, Brady and her older friends. Salene and May exchanged an awkward glance. Jack caught Ellie's gaze, then looked away, afraid that she might somehow be able to read his mind and see the still painful scars on their relationship and his wish that she had only met him, not Luke. Lex and Ram exchanged uneasy glances, as did Slade, Ruby and Ebony. Trudy and Jay caught each other's eye, then looked hastily away.
After all they had been through, at least they could thank the virus for something, couldn't they?