Travelers Omnibus by Alia Hess

Author:Alia Hess [Hess, Alia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-29T06:00:00+00:00

14

~ Womens ~

Sasha woke up shivering, one leg hanging off the side of the bed. He rolled over. Dusty slept with her mouth open, cocooned in all the sheets. He pulled at the blanket. “Hey, baby, you got to share.”

“Mm, sorry.” She offered him the covers and Sasha scooted next to her. “Oh, you’re freezing.”

“Yes, I know.”

Light from a sprinkling of stars pierced the darkness through the plastic sheeting over the window. It fell on Dusty’s serene face, her short auburn locks mussed from sleep. Sasha pressed his face to the sewn rip in the collar of her rainbow cat shirt.

On their walk home from Corvin’s, Sasha had spilled his secrets. First telling Dusty about the awful things he’d done in the past—his disregard for other people’s feelings and various lewd and drunken antics. Dusty had only smiled and said, “You’ve certainly come a long way since then.”

He told her about the virus, and how he should have tried to stop Dr. Krupin sooner, but he didn’t churn up his conviction quick enough, and his hesitation killed the world.

She had been quiet for a while as they pushed the bike down the hill toward Hammerlink. He was certain that at any moment her signature scowl would appear. He was certain she’d accuse him of being weak, of being a coward and a murderer. He was certain she’d feel nothing but disgust toward him and maybe even tell him they were through. Instead, she said, “I don’t know anything about the rest of the world. I wouldn’t want some country to come here and take over, but innocent people don’t deserve to die. Thinking about the whole world that way… it’s hard to comprehend, really. I think that’s gonna take some time to sink in. It’s unreal. What I do know? Sometimes we don’t know what we will really do in a situation until it happens. Especially when nothing is black and white. Those are the hardest choices. You did what you could. Forgive yourself.”

In the darkness of the bedroom, Sasha inhaled deeply and squeezed Dusty tight, heart full. “I love you so much.”

She smiled, eyes still closed. “Even when I steal the covers?”

“Yes. I am so in love with you. You are amazing. So… understanding. So good to me.”

Dusty’s smile wavered, but she didn’t open her eyes. “Stop.”

“Really, baby. I am so lucky to have you. You are everything to me.”

Dusty put her hands over her face and let out a small sob.

“Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong way? I wish my American was better so I could tell you how I really feel. Because I know sometimes you think you are not worth much, but I’m telling you, you are. You are worth everything.” Dusty cried into her hands and Sasha drew her in closer. “I—I’m not trying to make you upset. I’m sorry. I will stop talking.”

“Don’t stop.” Her voice was watery and muffled. “Tell me something else.”

Sasha stroked her hair and smiled. “Just you existing makes world better place.

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