《Wrecked Ashore》


 Awaken

    The day came when we decided to leave for the airport. This decision was because I needed a break. I am a graduate of Oxford. My experience there led me to the fine man to father my two children. Lily, the oldest, and Lawson, the youngest, are kids of intellect, sincerity. Although they may have been rambunctious, they were still, without a doubt, lovable. We lived in London, England. I''d thought it was time to move somewhere that could be a decent place to raise them both, somewhere with great benefits, pay, and stability.


    We decided that it would be best for our family to go on vacation; it seemed like one of the sanest things I''ve said in a while.


    After a couple of days, we had arrived at the airport. We walked through the large glass doors.


    Does my hair look okay? I asked my husband.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Honey, it looks fine. He reassured me.


    We approached a desk that extended beyond the reach of the walls. The woman whose appearance didn''t match those who typically work in airports was perceived to be ominous. Shivers ran down my spine and a wave of disgust fell over my body. I did my best to brush off her aura, but she looked like she meant business.


    -E -Erm Ahem, excuse me? When is flight London for Florida fifty-four departing?


    The woman sat there ignoring me staring blankly at her computer screen.


    Hello? She shot up sharply with distinct tedium.


    Give me two seconds.


    ...


    It appears to be leaving in about five minutes. She spoke with a thick Slovenian accent.


    Is your family ready for what''s yet to come?


    Uh, sure. I said with hesitation.


    We walked over to the chairs and sat, I looked down at my watch which gleamed back four glowing numbers that read 12 o''clock.

 The Plane Comes Crashing Down

    London for Florida number 5-4 now boarding.


    We picked up our bags and headed towards the boarding dock.


    An old rustic plane shimmered in the distance. It felt as if we had just entered a parallel dimension. We stepped onto the runway and walked up to the small plane. I looked around as to see if anyone was. However, no one seemed to be looking up. It was almost as if the passengers were all zombies. We put all our luggage in the luggage holders at the top of the plane''s roof. I sat down to make myself comfortable. As I sat there, I felt a slew of somnolent come over me. I dozed off into a much-needed sleep. I awoke to the screams of passengers reverberating throughout my eardrum like a teapot pitch.


    I briefly looked over to see the terrified look on my son''s face.


    Being a parent, you should never see your child with such fear in his eyes. As I tried to comfort my son, I heard one of the luggage racks pop.


    Ow! It hit my head and knocked me out.


    ...


    I blinked my eyes open to a bright scene that seemed like paradise.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Am I dead? Why is my head pounding? Why aren''t we in Florida?


    I couldn''t find anybody.


    Hello?!


    They quickly reacted to my voice.


    Mom?!


    Where are we?


    They all shrugged in a dumbfounding gaze. We had crashed on an island and nothing of the plane was to be found.


    I think we should all go to sleep and look for supplies tomorrow. I said


    In the middle of the night, I had woken up from discomfort in my head.


    A boat began to blare its horn.


    I thought we were back in the city. Quickly realizing the situation, I yelled and waved my arms in a frantic gesture. I hoped for the boat crew to see us in distress.


    As all else failed, the boat turned away. I had felt desperate. We were in the middle of the hinterland with no food, drinks, or beds. I forfeited back to the others and laid down once again.


    The following morning, I woke up to the sun. It was beautiful as its sharp rays hit my pale skin. I had always wanted to travel to the beach, but never under these circumstances.


    The rest of my family began waking up. As I reached down and let the sand run through my hand, a strong gust carried it all over the place.


    Mom! Lawson shot up. Let''s call it Johnson Island after dad.


    That''s not funny, sweets. Mommy doesn''t belong to the dunes and saltwater.


    Why don''t you and dad try to find some supplies and maybe some food?


    Alright, fine, but the first King crab is mine!


    Lily, come with me so we can see if there are any survivors.


    Mom, is that such a good idea for us to all be separated?


    Yes, why wouldn''t it be? What''s there to fear? The Babadook?


    Har har, but seriously. Let''s find that plane already.

 Discovery of Life or Death

    We found the airplane!


    The airplane was, well, damaged. Sadly, there was no one alive or around the wreckage. We went inside the metallic flotsam body and saw plenty of people''s bags, luggage, and carry-ons.


    Is this considered stealing, even under these circumstances? I asked myself.


    The discovery led to us stumbling upon things like blankets, clothes, and personal items that might come in handy.


    Mom?


    Yes?


    This feels wrong. These are their items. We can''t just take them.


    Honey, I know you feel an urge to want them to return but honey, look around. No one is alive anymore. It''s almost as if everyone blipped out of existence.


    -O -Okay, she said with hesitation.


    Grab as much stuff as you can; let''s head back to our camp area.


    The boys had already returned and it appeared the island had provided them with strange berries that had an iridescent aquamarine juice oozing from them. I had made a sign out of wooden sticks from the island that read HELP. After all, that is what we needed; help. We were in the middle of nowhere on an unknown island. No one had known that we had left beside us, because well, who else needed to know? This was our family. No one else had needed to know that we were leaving for London. Starting anew with all of our precious loved ones. My sister had passed away from cancer just a year before this. This mess of a year.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    My sister''s voice spoke in a hospital bed where an ambulatory EKG machine beeped each of her heartbeats. The calendar reads December of 1999.


    Promise. Promise me. Promise you won''t let me hurt anymore Katie.


    I promise to you, my beloved sister. I want to end your pain but the doctors can only do so much. Do you see all of these wires and IV bags? They are your life support. Do you see me?


    My hair flowed down to the middle of my back. The light-blonde amber color resembled beautiful strands of honey that magically flowed from my scalp. My sister, Kaya, shared the same hair color. However, due to the chemotherapy medicine that was supposed to save her life, she was completely bald. Tears flowed from her rosy cheeks and embodied her fight against cancer.


    I had wished we weren''t out here. I just wanted to go home, but I had to stay here for my family. The sweltering heat radiated off of the sun and began to blister my skin. I tried to stay in the shade from underneath the palm trees. There was almost next-to-nothing to drink; I contemplated drinking the salty ocean water. I know that would''ve tasted revolting and most likely dehydrate me.


    Mom, I know what you are thinking, but don''t do it. Lily had told me. I looked at her.


    What are you talking about?


    I know you''re thirsty and all, but you can''t drink salt water; it will eventually kill you. We need to find a lake or river somewhere. Somewhere with freshwater. She insisted.


    I may be the mother, but sometimes I felt like Lily was smarter than me. I''m the adult! I felt like I was going crazy, being thirsty, and trying to drink salt water. Then, I was arguing with my daughter about it.


    I told Adam that we should go exploring. We gathered rocks to leave a trail so we could always return to the main part of the island. After that, we took off into the trees. After a few feet into an immense jungle that was full of exotic creatures and disgusting bugs, we stumbled upon a huge owl. Its wingspan looked almost twelve feet long! The creature made a noise in which I cannot describe to this day, that made us all jump. Then, it flapped its wings almost nine times before flying off. As the humongous creature flew off the tree, you could see it fly up into the pale blue sky.


    Wow, that was one huge owl! Lawson exclaimed.


    It is! I agreed.


    A trickling stream with green mossy rocks on the riverbed offered me hope to rehydrate and cool off my blistering skin.

 The Sand Stings Sunburns

    The twilight sky began to draw near as the sun befell beneath the horizon. I am exhausted at this point. I cannot wait until we get rescued and get to go home because I may never step foot on the beach again.


    I laid down on the solid ground and the sand rubbed onto my already burned back. I felt my eyes getting heavier and heavier; I was sleepy from walking around so much. Out of nowhere, I hear the sound of an owl. I open my eyes to see an owl swoop down from the sky. It made a loud impact against the Earth, then stopped moving. Still as the sky, it stayed there.


    What was that mom? Lawson asked.


    It was an owl, honey.


    We¡¯re never gonna go home, are we?


    I don¡¯t know¡­ I did my best to comfort him.


    Try to get some sleep, you¡¯ll need your strength for in the morning.


    I dozed back off into the night.


    I awake the next morning and I begin to feel my tummy growl. I look around, there is no food. I am famished.


    Adam, Adam.


    His loud snores overpowered my soft, parched voice.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ADAM!


    AHHHH! What?! What?


    I am starving. Can you go look for food?


    Not right now, I¡¯m sleeping.


    I¡¯m hungry now! Don¡¯t you know you¡¯re supposed to be the man for this family?! I snapped.


    Hey! Calm down! I¡¯m stuck out here too! This isn¡¯t just about you!


    Sorry, I should chill. I¡¯m allowing my hunger pangs to get to me.


    Sometimes you lose all sanity being stuck out here on an island for so long. I haven¡¯t even considered the number of days it had been. Lilly and Lawson start to wake up.


    Are you guys hungry? They nod yes.


    Okay, fine. I¡¯ll get up and go look for food for you guys.


    ¡­


    Why hasn¡¯t he come back yet? I ask Lilly in a worried voice.


    Mom, He¡¯ll be okay. Remember he IS a big boy.


    But it¡¯s been over an hour. I rebutted.


    Mom, calm down, alright? How about you go lie down and rest. You look a little tense.


    Fine.


    I went to the bed, which was the hard-ass ground, that I laid out myself. I laid there, staring up at the sky; waiting, wondering, hoping for rescue, for food, for a helicopter to come by and see us stranded. I think that I fell asleep after ten minutes. I wake up to Adam and Lawson nudging me on the shoulder, the perfect way to wake me up. I was already craving. They told me that they had found some more berries and they were going to try to find something else. While they are saying this, I just keep thinking buffets back in Miami. Then I realize we are near the ocean, why don¡¯t we just fish? I stop Adam and Lawson from continuing to talk and point out that we need to invent something that can help us fish.


    Tomorrow I think we will make a spear with a rope attached to it. Then we could catch fish to eat.


    I agreed as they go to lie down on their beds.


    I fell asleep as the wind rushes against my cheeks, and the scent of the ocean nearby. The wind howls across the coast with sand blowing across the dark island. A storm was clearly brewing in the clouds.

 The Storm Sing Songs of Sorrow

    Hurry! We need to run to the inner part of the island, this storm looks huge! I exclaimed.


    We all run towards the trees as the raindrops hit the top of our heads. We know this isn''t going to end well. We stand there in the rain, waiting for this insanity to end, but we all know that won''t happen. The rain splashes loudly as it hits the ground and makes puddles. The wind rushes forward, causing the rain to impinge upon our faces. We finally make it underneath the trees and wait for the rain to stop as we know that if this insanity won''t end then maybe, just maybe, the rain will. As we waited, thunder roared across the island. After a couple of minutes, the rain finally stopped. As it died down, we returned to the camp we had left. Ruined by the storm, everything we had accomplished was gone. We had no idea what was going to happen; I had no idea what was going to happen. I told everyone that we would have to begin again, and it was going to suck. I can''t believe we came so far and lost so much. I just wish somebody would find us, but we all know that wasn''t going to happen. I started collecting food. I just went out by myself and started looking for food of some sort. I am just so hungry and tired of this tragedy. Lastly, there was a tropical tree filled with coconuts. This is the best kind of food because there is a liquid, coconut milk, and the meat of the coconut. I collected as much as I could, then I started back to camp. They were excited once I got back. We all sat down and busted the coconuts open. We all had a wonderful time being able to drink and eat happily. We fell asleep, our bellies were full, and no one was complaining. Finally, we had a good time being out here for once, waiting for the next unexpected thing to happen. I can''t wait until we finally get to go home, hopefully, if ever. The wind has died down a little bit, but the rain is just pouring down more and more. The air became frigid from the icy wind blowing against the rain. All the clothes we got from the plane were on the beach! I''m pretty sure they are already drenched by now.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    M-Mom, w-when is this storm going to end? Lily asked.


    I''m not so sure anymore. I wish I could end all of this insanity.

 A Fate Worse than Death

    I can tell Lily is freezing by how much she is shaking. I bring her in for some warmth.


    Soon, sweetheart. Soon


    Lawson and Adam ask me when things will get better, I couldn''t answer them. I don''t want to remind myself that we''re stuck out here in the middle of nowhere waiting, hoping, and praying. By this time the rain has died down, I can tell the damage that was dealt. Even just looking at what happened, saddens me more and the children too. What will become of us? I am scared that they are going to find us dead somewhere in the ocean I get frightened by every waking day. I began to recall the horrible plane crash, and it hit me, whenever I thought about our lives at stake and all the real lives that were lost. I started to cry because I thought about the young kids, whose lives were lost. They could have gone off to college and found a cure for a disease.


    All lost.


    All forgotten.


    No one knew.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The tragedy and catastrophe that my life had become.


    I awaken from my thought and realize that my daughter was sick and can''t stop coughing. I hear her struggling to breathe now and then. It hurts to hear how horrible it sounds knowing that you cannot do anything when your child is sick. She started to throw up blood. I knew that this wasn''t a good sign. I thought she might have an ulcer. I asked myself, could things get any worse out here? As I snap back to reality, Lily is still getting sick. I feel so bad for her.


    The coughing finally stopped blood surrounding her weak body. She began to cry as I began to wonder.


    Could this be an ulcer?


    Looking at the bigger picture, I start to wonder are we going to get out of here? My thoughts began to bother me; is this what our fate was to be? Lily starts choking harder and harder until finally, it stops. Lily looks at me as she falls to the ground gasping for air until finally, she closes her eyes. I start to cry.


    Did this have to happen to us? What had we done to deserve this?


    As I fall to my knees, holding my daughter in my arms. Adam and Lawson are standing around us. I hear the sobs of my son behind me. I stand up, and Adam looks at me and starts to hug me. As tears of sadness roll down my face, the thoughts and emotions of what has just happened cloud my already drained mind. I am tired of this stupid island; it just pisses me off. I have never hated anything so much.

 Power through Hurt

    Is she really gone? Lawson asked. I cannot believe that she is no longer here with us. If she can die, won''t I die too? Mom?!


    No honey, I will not lose any more of my family. She will not have died in vain. Is there a reason that the Universe is trying to divulge upon our family? I explain.


    Well, I know I can''t mourn forever, there will be a time and a place to mourn, and right now if we don''t continue strong, they will mourn us.


    How? Why? Where are we? The questions that always appear in my mind. The island seems to always grow bigger and bigger every time I wake up, it saddens me. Now I know the fate of one of my family members, death. Is this what will happen to us all? Maybe my son is right. I wonder how my mother is. Still, I''ve come to a sudden realization things are going to be okay for my family, as tough as it was to let go. Maybe I needed to have this experience to cope with a death of a loved one. I should no longer be sad, although I still blame myself for her death and Adam always seems to comfort me.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    As I hold my late daughter in my arms, I start to realize that we may never be the same again after today. Without Lily, I might as well be dead, our entire family is falling apart! Thoughts continue to pour out of my mind and into my subconscious like a raincloud through the sky. I hope no one else gets sick. Who''s going to be next? Lawson? I hope and pray that we will get out of this alive. Lily didn''t make it, but we have to be strong as that is what she would have wanted.

 The Beast Appears

    We must bury her. Lawson said.


    I look at my husband to see nothing but sadness in his eyes. I look back down at my little girl and squeeze her dead body and whisper I love you. I look over at Adam to see him digging a hole. I start to cry again, with every tear I feel, which makes the sadness only stronger.


    It¡¯s ready. Adam lays down the shovel onto the slick, muddy sand.


    I pick up my little girl¡¯s dead body and set her gently in the sand grave, as tears pour down my warm face. My husband feels a sense of relief; I can tell this by the look in his eyes, as he starts shoveling the loose sand from the ground and pours it onto her body. I observe the blank look on her face because I know she is a peaceful child, at rest. I stand up from the grave and start to walk away, toward the inner depths of the island, my husband and son following close behind.


    Mom! Come back!


    I run faster looking for food. I am famished, beyond famished at this point I haven¡¯t eaten in at least three days.


    A tall mango tree in the distance slowly gets closer and I run faster and faster.


    Yes! Finally, a mango tree. Gah! I am so hungry!


    I was so hungry from lack of food that I quickly gobbled up four mangoes just by myself.


    Wow, those mangoes were delicious. I thought to myself.


    Adam and Lawson saw me eating those mangoes they sat down with me and ate a few.


    Those are so sweet and juicy. Just be careful honey, don¡¯t make yourself sick off of them. Adam said.


    With my stomach now full, I decided to lay down and go to sleep. I laid on the rough plants of the jungle floor; I look at the stars and start to cry remembering my daughter¡¯s death. The somber silence invokes strong exhaustion that I couldn¡¯t fight off. I passed out hard.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    I slowly blink my eyes open to the sound of a racket of two young men hard at work.


    What are y¡¯all doing?


    Aren¡¯t you hungry mom? We need to find food for every day we are out there. We cannot continue like this. Lily is gone and I don¡¯t want to be next.


    I nod and walk toward them.


    Alright, but I want to help.


    I grab some tools and Lawson stops me and I look up at him.


    Mom, it¡¯s alright, we got this, you go lie down and relax, dad and I can handle this, you need to relax you have been through enough you¡¯re stressing too much. Dad and I both see it.


    I look at him ready to argue back.


    Sweetheart, please rest. My husband insisted.


    I nod with a blank stare on my face. I walk towards a shady tree and sit down. I look towards the ocean and I remember the time when we went to the beach in New Smyrna.


    I began to daydream about the trip in 2007.


    Hey, stop that Lawson you¡¯re getting my hair wet! Lily yelled.


    Well, if you would just get in the water you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about it! Lawson argued.


    They started bickering and I watched them and laughed at them.


    Hey, Lilly! Just get in sweetie!


    No, mom. It is way too cold for me. Lilly exclaimed.


    Oh come on honey, what was the point of coming with us? Adam said.


    OK, OK, just give me a minute, it is freezing. At least let me get used to the water!


    Lilly starts to walk deeper and deeper into the water, and then she dives into the cold water.


    Oh. My. Goodness. It is so cold! She shivered.


    I started to laugh at my daughter as I overlook her as she swam.


    I quickly jumped back to reality.


    I see Adam and Lawson cooking fish over a fire, that looks great to eat right now. I sit down to grab some fish.


    After sitting, I take a bite into my fish it is so bland but how could I complain, after all, I haven¡¯t eaten anything before those mangoes.


    I fall asleep again to the breeze of the ocean in my face. A loud crash through the trees echoed and startled me awake. I hear something in the trees. I look over there, but I see nothing. I can¡¯t see anything. I squint to focus my tired eyes. Oh! There is this gigantic, dark-furred beast! With a huge mane in the looks of a lion, and I can tell this is no earthly creature. It seems to be looking, almost staring at me. The creature runs away into the nothingness of the wilderness.

 The Black Scaled Beast Attacks

    ¡ª- Adam!?


    What? What- What did you see?


    I tell my husband I saw a huge, dragon-like beast.


    Adam?!


    What did it look like?


    My husband shook up from what I saw. I, too, was shaken up.


    Adam!


    He snaps back to the reality of the early morning.


    Well then describe it to me, Katie.


    Uh -U -Uh, it had black scales and six fingers. I couldn¡¯t tell. It was dark.


    My husband always seems to have no clue what happens half of the time. Well since it¡¯s not here now and still nighttime, I think we should start looking for supplies to kill it. My husband says.


    But, dad! says Lawson.


    What? I snap.


    Dad, how can we jump to the conclusion that it wants to harm us? After all, it did not harm mom!


    Honey, we are stuck on an island; nothing would want to protect us.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    But, dad! Mom! Tell him something!


    No, Lawson, help me bring together some tools to help kill this thing. I reply in an irritated tone.


    Okay fine. He says backing off.


    We must start finding things to kill it; we must hurry before it gets dark.


    Hey, look! Mom, I found a spear-looking thing in the ground. Lawson exclaimed.


    Good, I am glad you¡¯re finally helping.


    I walk towards the spear to pick it up. It¡¯s stuck so I pull it, and then it flies free from the sand. I take it over to where I had been sleeping the previous night, and lay down with the spear by my side I doze off¡­


    Nighttime is soon approaching¡­


    I sit up, the pitch dark sky is illuminated by the full moon. I heard a noise in the distance; I scan the trees looking for the beast. I lay back down because I¡¯m not seeing anything. I hear a loud noise approaching closer. I sit up to see the beast staring me in my eyes; I cannot believe it is real. I carefully reach for my spear as a scream was heard from the woods. The beast turns around to see another beast staring him in the face the beast looks back at me then charges towards the beast with the pink fur. I slowly turn towards Adam and Lawson and whisper their names.


    Adam! Lawson!


    Adam¡¯s head looks up as he whispers.


    What?


    Look two beasts. I say.


    He looks up to see the two tall, one scaly and one furry creature aiming to swing at each other like two wrecking balls and a building, stunned, the furry creature runs into the depth of the forest. The scaly creature looks at us and smiles. I know that it doesn¡¯t want to hurt us.


    Now the beast walks over to where I am lying and sits down next to me.


    Hey, Lawson? I ask.


    Yeah? He says.


    What should we call this big thing? The creature looks down at me.


    Uh, how about Niekro Nidhogg?


    Like the beast from Norway?


    Okay, Niekro how do you like it?


    He nods.


    I think he likes it. I say.


    OK, everyone, I think it¡¯s time to go back to sleep. Adam says.


    Niekro lies down. We all fall asleep.

 A Change of Scenery

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

 The Men Escaped

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

 Niekro Hunts and Gathers

    After some time, Niekro returns with an arm full of an assortment of tropical fruits ranging from bananas, mangoes, kiwi, and plantains.


    Oh, thank you so much. I say.


    He nods.


    The first fruit I grab is a banana; I eat the banana in thankfulness.


    Oh, that hit the spot. I say.


    Adam and Lawson grab some fruit as well.


    I am tired. I tell them.


    I lay upon the cold, hard ground of the cave. As I drift off into bliss, during my sleep I dream of my daughter, Lily, coughing in my arms, she coughs up oceanwater and then screams, the scream is bloodcurdling. I wake up in tears and sweat.


    Adam!


    He jumps from the ground we are sleeping on.


    Yes? What dear?


    I had a nightmare of Lily, she was in my ar ---


    Shh. He hushes me.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    It was just a nightmare, it''s going to be okay.


    I know but it was all so real.


    I know, but try to go back to sleep, it''s okay. He soothes me.


    I drift back to sleep. Then, I wake up to the morning sky with birds flying around the cave, beautiful sky, fresh air.


    Today is going to be a good day. I think to myself.


    Lawson! Adam! Time to get up! I shout in a sing-song voice.


    The boys awake to the smell of the fresh air and beauties of the island. Niekro!


    The scaly beast jumped up from the cold, hard ground.


    Well, you seem to be in a good mood, dear. Adam says.


    Well, you must make the best of what is to come. I reply.


    We are stuck here after all. Lawson mutters.


    Now, honey, you know that kind of enthusiasm will get you nowhere. I say.


    Now, let''s get down to the beach and start gathering supplies. I alert them.


    We head down towards the beach. After we get there, Lawson stretches. Niekro immediately starts gathering supplies.


    OK, now, let''s find some firewood, more fruit, and anything else you guys can find. I command.


    Look, over there! Firewood! Adam says.


    Let''s go get it! I say.


    We pick up the firewood and started to carry it back to the cave.


    OW! My nail! It broke! I scream in furious pain.


    Seriously? Lawson says.


    Yes! It hurts bad. I say.


    I know it will be okay. I may have exaggerated come to think of it. Niekro picks up what he has gathered from things ranging from wood and sticks. After hiking across the forest and back up to the cave, we settle down and start another fire.


    Dad?


    Yes?


    Do you think we will ever get to go home again?


    I don''t know, bud.


    I am still trying to figure out why it had to be my family? I suppose we have the worst luck. I grab a piece of fruit from the pile of food. I sink my teeth into another banana. It is so sweet and nourishing.

 Decisions Cost Money

    I must use the little energy I have to keep going for the sake of my daughter. She would have wanted me to. The beast, Niekro, scratches himself in a million places, from his head to his stomach and even his feet. We all leave the cave and decide to go for a swim. Swimming is relaxing to the body; the waves of the ocean flow up to my ankles. It is comforting yet tickling. I laugh.


    The phone rang some odd years ago.


    Hello? A man says over the telephone.


    Hello?


    Is this Katie, Mrs. Katie Johnson? The older man''s voice asks.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Yes, it is.


    I''m Mr. Ramos, CEO of Freeman-Ramos Industries. We regret to inform you that we are downsizing our company, you will be out of a job by the 31st.


    Yessir, I understand. Have a good day. I tell the man.


    You do the same, ma''am.


    I hang up the phone.


    Adam?!


    Yes?


    I just lost my job. What are we going to do?!


    Well, I guess we will have to use our savings to relocate; you will have to find new work.


    But where?! I have lived in Miami my whole life. It''s where I grew up; it''s all I''ve ever known. We met here.


    I know that, but we have to keep our shit together for our kids.


    Okay fine. We''ll go to London.


    London?! We live in Florida. The best destination for tourists in America.


    Um. Because it''s different. Why else?