She parked the car on the side of the road. A short distance away the sea shone and sparkled in the afternoon sun.

"Come on. Let's take a walk."

"What if someone sees us?"

"Then we'll deal with it. Come on, we've been cooped up here for too long."

It was rare they had to use their words these days. Normally they communicated through expressions and a strange 'know' of what the other wanted.

Maybe it was because he was unsure. Maybe they had to agree for them to have the 'know.'

It wasn't exactly like there was some mutant handbook.

Not anymore.

He climbed out of the car and they walked, arm in arm, to the cliff. It overlooked a golden beach, sprawled out beneath them.

"I didn't think anything this beautiful could be left," he said.

She squinted up the cliffs. "I think those are steps. Let's see if we can get down there."

They were steps, and they made their way down, bit at a time, to the golden sand below. They took their shoes and socks off – didn't want to ruin them – and wandered along the tide line. The water was cold, though not quite enough to be uncomfortable, and she reached down to splash a handful over his head. He laughed and splashed her back.

"It doesn't look like anyone's been here," he said later. not on the beach, anyway, and why wouldn't they come to the beach if they could? Fishing would be a way of getting food, a scarcity in this new world they walked.

"Are you glad you came?" she asked.

He smiled. "Fine, I am."

She laughed. "Told you it would be fun."