The island was dying.
The once-happy residents of the island were now sad and looked like life seeped out slowly from them. The vibrant laughter had changed to coughs that made the chest ache. It only took a few giant smoke mushrooms and rumbles far away from the island to turn their water to poison and kill their trees. Even the animals fled. The sky turned dark and never cleared.
She had lost her dad to the war, and she had watched the radiation sickness slowly drain the life out of her mother till she was gone. It was just Jenny, a 16-year-old girl, and her little brother Jay left in the wicked world.
Jenny hated war, and the only thing she hated more than war was the people who started the war. Her dad had told her they were “fat greedy men who fought wars from a paradise saved for their families while sending fathers, sons, and brothers to their death." The only thing that kept her going was Jay; he was 4 years old and still as innocent as ever.
The sickness grew, and people no longer lived—they waited.
But Jenny refused to wait.
There was a ship that carried people away from the island. Rumors whispered that the ship traveled to a different new world. Jenny begged, worked, and bartered to get two tickets for her and her brother.
She bought the tickets, and they were her and Jay's escape—their hope.
The docks were crowded with families, some clutching their children's hands like prayers and some begging for help.
Jenny carried Jay, who was sleeping in her arms, as she maneuvered through the crowd to get to the ticket queue.
The queue was long, and she stood for hours. Her leg ached, but it was worth it; she couldn't afford to miss her chance. If she did, it would be 20 days before the shipment returned.
Finally, it was her turn. The black-gloved ticket master held out his hand and requested her ticket. “Tickets?"
With one hand, she supported Jay resting on her shoulder, and with the other, she reached into her pocket.
Her hand grabbed only one ticket, and her heart skipped a beat. She brought it out and held it with her mouth as she searched for the second ticket.
"Please step aside if you have no ticket," the ticket master said with a strict face.
“Just hold on, I swear I have it on me,” she was horrified, searching for it.
“Need help with him?" a deep voice came from behind her. It was the man behind her. He saw them and knew they were alone—no guardian of any kind.
He was a big, tall man with a hideous scar that drew across his fierce face. He looked like he had fought all the wars, but his eyes were the same as every other person—sadness, fear, and almost no hope, just looking for an escape.
Panic choked her voice—“Can… you please watch him for me? Just for a minute?”
The man nodded as he took Jay from her. Her heart ached for some reason—she was trusting a total stranger because she felt she had no choice.
Jay opened his eyes as he noticed he was in different arms. “Jenny?" He cleaned his eyes, looking confused, scared, and still sleepy.
She cupped his face in her hand. “Uncle here is going to watch you, okay? I will be back in a second. Promise."
And she ran.
She retraced her steps. Her eyes scanned everywhere, her lungs burning and her heart pounding as she prayed in her heart.
Finally, she saw it on the ground just beside a bench she had previously sat on. She felt a huge relief.
She grabbed it and sprinted back.
But the ship was gone. She could see only a trail of smoke and faint waves.
She fell to her knees as she wailed silently. She was alone, and even the sea couldn't hear her, so what was the need to cry out loud? Jay was alone, she thought, all alone in this wicked world. She tried to soften the blow by telling herself, “It was better he was out there alone, where he could find hope and life, than he remained any longer on the island, where life and hope died slowly.”
"Jenny!”
Jenny turned back in shock. It was Jay running to her, happy to see her.
And behind him… the man. He stayed.
“I told him we would wait for you," the man said.
Jay hugged Jenny. She held him tight; she thought she might never see him again.
She looked up at the man, feeling guilty. “You missed your chance just because of me."
The man gave a smile. “Don't bother about it. Before you know it, the ship will be back again."
“But what about the ticket? You missed it, so now your ticket is invalid."
“Nah, don't sweat it,” he said as he walked to her and patted her on the head. “I have enough saved to get us new tickets.”
"Really!?" Jay beamed with joy.
“Sure, come on. You guys must be hungry," he said and gestured to them to follow him.
Jay galloped happily, following the man, and Jenny stood up and followed behind.
“Thank you, kind sir," she said, looking down as tears flowed down her face.
“It’s okay. Your brother reminds me of my little boy waiting for me on the other side. I think they would be good friends," he said as he watched Jay jolly along.
Jenny smiled at the man as the hope in her eyes slowly started to return. He might not understand what he had done—he patted her head and asked if she had eaten, something she hadn't felt since her mom passed away—care. He reminded her that although she lived in a harsh world, she was still a child who deserved care.
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