I woke up and felt the sun on my face. I look over to the baby monitor to check our son. This is the first time in the past few months since he's had a peaceful night. Relieved, I roll out of bed. Lucile's side is still made up. I guess she was working late at Mercy West. This isn't the first time I woke up alone since Lucile started working at this hospital. My beautiful son babbles in his sleep and I put on the robe at the end of the bed. Heading downstairs, I walk past his room. I slowly walk inside to avoid waking him. I peep over the crib and kiss his forehead. I leave his room and head down the hall towards the stairs.
As I descend our spiral staircase, I relive the moments of each picture on the wall and smile. Downstairs, I walk into the kitchen and turn on the TV. It's preset to channel 69 News. I make myself some coffee and begin my day. I look at the monitor we keep in the kitchen and he is still asleep. I smile at the small creation I've been blessed with. I only wish his mother was here to witness this bundle of joy. It's 9:27 AM when the phone rings. I see it's Mercy West Hospital. Concerned, I pick up the phone without hesitation. Lucile always calls from her cellphone. Did something happen to her?
"Hello?" I say with fear in my voice.
"Honey, it's me," Lucile said sharply.
Relieved to hear her voice, I respond. "Hey baby, how are you? Is everything okay?"
"I'm okay but something bad has happened. I need you to pack a bag and you and our head to our cabin. I'll meet you there later tonight and explain everything."
"Lucile talk to me. What's going on?"
"There's been an outbreak and I can't leave the hospital. A virus is spreading, and people are dying. I'm only allowed one call and I thought it would be best to let you know that I'm okay. I love you. I love both of you."
"Lucile wait I –"
The line disconnects. I look down at my hands and they're shaking. I'm terrified, and my eyes begin to burn as the tears form. I look back at the TV and the news reads "Outbreak in Surrounding Areas". I turn it up and the news reporter says that people are to remain indoors until further notice. Hospitals, churches, and banks are holing up civilians until further notice. No one is allowed to leave once they are inside. This is why Lucile can't leave the hospital I tell myself.
I play the entire conversation with Lucile in my head a second time. Suddenly I realize that whatever this virus she talked about is not only at the hospital but maybe the whole city. The news is showing neighboring counties and towns that also have the outbreak. My son finally wakes up and begins to cry. I turn the TV off and head upstairs to his room. I pick him up and hold him tight. I hear a loud boom and duck down surrounding my son instinctively. I go to the window and below the horizon, I see explosions near and far. Dark smoke clouds fill the light blue sky I use to love.
I put him back down in the crib and pack our bags. I grab the picture that hangs on the wall at the front of the door of the three of us on the way out and head to the car. I'm all packed and ready to go. Finally, outside, I want to head in Lucile's direction and pick her up, but the traffic cop is directing me in the other direction. She trusts me, and I trust her. So, my only companion being my ten-month infant son, I head down route 33 towards our cabin upstate. I can see the smoke metastasize and fill my rearview mirror. Something is wrong. The tears begin to fall as I leave my wife of twenty years behind. She'll meet me later I reassure myself. And Negan and I head off into the sunset ahead of me.