Streets of Childhood
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobOH5yb0H7
“Ez…” Aqil looked over at her as she kept herself busy with reloading. She had almost finished reloading the thousand rounds they had in the last week of taking time off. “How are you doing?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOxbvZktEy
“Fine.” She answered automatically, not even thinking of an honest answer.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTVU2uB2Px
“Ez. Come one. Actually think about it for more than a second.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWhG4Tubeq
She took a deep breath and moved in her chair to face Aqil. “It’s scary. I’m scared.” She quietly muttered. “This kid, whoever they are, they’re making me realize I’ve got something to worry about other than myself. Now I’ve got another being to care for-to live for. I’ve barely cared since the outbreak,” she wrapped her arms around herself, “but now I guess I’ve got to.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k9Dv2cHus
“It’ll be alright, Ez. Things won’t be easy, but we can figure it out like we always have.” Aqil tried to reassure her but knew he didn’t have the words to make her feel better.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PBl9kAag8
“I need some time to think. I’m gonna take the bike out for a drive.” She stood up from the chair and walked to the door, not hearing anything Aqil said to try and stop her. She pulled the old dirt bike they had fixed up from the garage, praying it’d turn on. Once she got it running, she left their little compound and drove to their old neighborhood. To her parent's sterile and empty house and to the neighboring house she had grown up in.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BNk4HLfTK
She pulled into the driveway and got off the bike, walking up to the front door she had already broken into. Anytime she needed to think, she’d come here, which meant Aqil would come sooner or later to pick her up and talk.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatm9uFYrhc
Ezra walked up the stairs and into their old room, looking at the poster-lined walls. She ran her hand along them before sitting on her old bed and taking a deep breath. Before too long, Aqil showed up, sitting down next to her in silence.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTDhpUnJw1
Eventually, Ezra spoke up. “This baby is going to change everything, and I’m not sure I can do it.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyIwfRRH4H
“It doesn’t have to, Ezra.” He placed his hand on top of hers. “You don’t have to keep the child. Abortion is an option, or I’m sure one of Roan’s rich friends would adopt an infected baby.” He paused, waiting for her to speak, but when she didn’t, he spoke again. “No matter what you choose, I’ll be here for you.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fjYvbHMMe
“I know.” She looked up at him. “Thank you.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKzEWWMHDR
First Taste of The Good Life
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbcCRBImST
“Ez!” Liza, one of the girls staying with Ezra’s family, yelled out from the other room. “Some old guy is here asking for you.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zbXMBUPSU
Ezra jumped up from her bed, looking down at herself to make sure she looked decent before going out to greet them. She already knew it was Cohen, as she had given him her address, so she wasn’t surprised when he was the one standing in the doorway.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QrRagJIvE
“Don’t yell that, Liza.” Ezra harshly whispered to her as she walked by to greet Cohen. “Hey.” She casually leaned on the doorway.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6EWODX573
“I’ve got a job for you if you’re free.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ94OtR4EJ4
“I don’t have work until later.” She shrugged. “I’m free.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6ab3UbQmN
“Grab a backpack if you have one.” He nodded inside. She quickly walked past the kids that were still home and hungry for some drama and into their room to grab her backpack before returning to him. “Come on.” He motioned for her to follow. She turned back to the other kids and glared, warning them not to tell of this moment to the parents or else.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7Qcwh9dr3
“What’re we doing?” Ezra finally asked once they were on the elevator headed down.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ej3pCiH3K
“I know a guy who makes food tickets.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I6PsUUiUN
“Fake ones then.” She interrupted him.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNFO9N6O37
He nodded and continued on. “I need them transported through multiple checkpoints from one side of the city to the other. I need someone who looks unimposing, so you will be going alone. I’ll meet you on the other side.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjN3Qy13XM
“And if something goes wrong?” She looked up at him.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbeYJft8r1
“I don’t know you.” He shrugged casually. “But if we succeed, I’ll give you some things from outside the zone worth more than a year's wages around here.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkevpAWACM
“Deal.” Ezra’s eyes lit up at the mention.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBfK1YUrw4
Ezra pushed the door open, closing it behind her, breathing heavily. She leaned against the door, keeping it closed as she regained her breath.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3I8h1DhGl
“You the courier?” She jumped as a man spoke to her from the darkness.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27AkB1TYcM
“Ye--yeah.” She stood up off the door, trying to seem as tall as possible.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tOb1yxLfB
“Come here.” Her eyes adjusted enough for her to follow him into the dark until they came to a door which he knocked on. There was a metallic noise before the door opened, bright light flooding into the warehouse. She followed after him, past the person who had opened the door: Cohen.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUED2qWhYdY
“Good girl.” He smiled down at her, closing the door and latching it before following after them.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa0GXQgv9U
Ezra looked around them. They seemed to be in a workshop of sorts, or maybe a marketplace filled with items she hadn’t seen in the year she had been here: weapons of every variety, canned foods of fruits that had been eaten first, leaving each person with drab MREs or vegetable stew.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMo3QHZuy8
“Show them, show them.” The man excitedly rubbed his hands together, looking at Ezra.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1WYBEbpp5
“Go ahead.” Cohen placed his hand on her shoulder.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA08Wow3CL
Ezra removed her backpack, taking the tickets out, and placed them on the table. “There--there you go.” She looked back at Cohen expectantly, seeing a large smile grow on his face.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNuOqKrxRl
“You’ve got some real potential, Ezra.” He picked up the tickets, handing them to the other man.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2yXEyTJ20
“Now, why don’t you pick something out from the stock as a reward.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6H8CJEEGF
Ezra stepped back from them, her eyes scanning the walls again. Bottles of booze piqued her interest, but she knew if Karim saw, he’d kill her. Baggies of what seemed to be weed was also an option, but in the end, Ezra picked up a bar of deodorant. She had run out of hers shortly after arriving here and had been making do with a spray of perfume to keep her from smelling so bad. Admittedly it didn’t work as well as the real thing.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHfSUn6wPq
“Practical girl.” Cohen chuckled from behind her.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqvyy3DFOj
“How about I buy us something to celebrate, and we go back to my place?” He grabbed a bottle off the wall, tucking it into his bag. She smiled at the thought.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDFAtQU0Wv
More Than A Friendship
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW6IdhyA3D
“Fucking house is falling apart.” Ezra, frustrated, yelled out as she hammered another board onto the siding.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoVhRhPrmq
“Better than no house at all.” Aqil called back to her as he scooped the leaves out of the gutters. Asuka was currently running around the yard chasing a butterfly below the ladders. Aqil climbed down the ladder and moved it so he was now closer to Ezra. As he climbed up, he watched her hammer overhead, her chest jiggling as she did. He tried to tear his attention away, to give her privacy, but didn’t seem able to in the moment.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjbd3JO5ME
Ezra looked over at him with a questioning glance. “Something you like, Aqil?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN2lKxHoLO
“Oh, no.” He looked away quickly to hide his fierce blush. “Ez.” He finally spoke after a few moments. “Do you…find me attractive?” He quietly muttered his question.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYWjMcWWcK
Ezra shrugged, not turning her attention away from her work. “I’d sleep with someone who looks like you. Sure, you’re hot, but it’s different; you’re my best friend.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gKGASSzok
“I…I get it.” He nodded, not really getting it.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtMiGVhRXC
Both of them looked over as Cohen arrived outside the compound. Ezra climbed down the ladder to open the gate for him, allowing him to drive in.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpbEm0RXoQ
“I’ve got some news with you two.” Cohen called out to Aqil, who climbed down his own ladder to walk over.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0SYCCUF4H
“What’s the news?” Aqil asked, wiping his hands on his pants.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qxikni6UA
“I’ve got a job for you. One I think you’ll enjoy.” Cohen put his arm around Erza’s shoulders. “A job sent from Biotech to wipe out an infected hoard. They’re providing ammo and weapons.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qRcllp7Ss
“Sounds like fun.” Ezra smiled widely at the thought. She always loved getting her hands dirty when it came to the infected.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPWpDdEtPT
“Only one downside: they’re sending some of their agents to oversee it.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlvXNKsU1x
“Not the best, but as long as they let me shoot some runners, I’m excited still.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJmL896YqR
“Ez. Maybe we shouldn’t do this. Not with your…condition.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauwe4mTe0D
“I can still shoot and run.” Ezra crossed her arms.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC82T7t9Gm
“Ezra, please.” Aqil spoke seriously, looking at her with pleading eyes.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3KDf44H4A
“I’m not going to sit back and do nothing while you have all the fun.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmVz2r6Dxo
“Just snipe, at least.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzVj6GvV6m
Ezra sighed deeply before dropping her arms. “Fine.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD0iEbTLgI
“What exactly is this ‘condition’?” Cohen asked after the two stopped bickering, looking down at Ezra.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOWtbGtOOg
“I…” She looked away from him.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33SFjEd9QG
“It’s nothing.” Aqil quickly answered, regretting bringing it up without Ezra’s permission.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoopCi2lTl
Thinning Their Numbers
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vyFIUqbQM
“Ezra.” She had her arms tucked behind her back as she nodded at the Biotech agents.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbtvRDRGcl
“Aqil.” He held his hand out to the head solider who towered over the others.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAODnAozKvq
“Mack.” The man smiled at them, shaking Aqil’s hand. “This is Felix and Shaheen.” He motioned towards the other agents. “Are you ready to head out?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S7kmsz0Sq
“We are.” Aqil nodded.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8GxjGO55G
“We’ll take the Humvee.” Mack patted the hood of the large vehicle.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNXXEJrPqr
“Only if I get to be the one on that gun.” Ezra smiled over at Mack.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcswiYieSh
“I doubt you can convince Felix to let you shoot ‘er.” Mack laughed heartily, before waving everyone into the Humvee. They all put on headsets so they could hear one another, as well as protect their ears from the sounds of the guns.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX2SrIOfg2
“Where are you two from in New-I’m sorry, No Man’s Land?” Shaheen asked.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghqDUj4z3H
“39.7392° N, 104.9903° W.” Aqil answered, having long ago memorized the quarantine zone’s coordinates.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx4VyDh0Fu
“Old Denver.” Shaheen responded. “Heard some bad things about the quarantine zones.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeTSUbvkyR
“I’ve heard some are still going, ruled by a new leader.” Mack added.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKJhS5mZOj
“We try to stay out of politics.” Ezra ended the conversation. If they wanted information about No Man’s Land, they’d have to find it out through someone else.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnSaFfZCOG
“Heard.” Mack simply responded as the line became quiet until they got closer to the sawmill. “This is your drop-off point, Ezra.” The Humvee came to a stop.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQG6TSkGrV
“Thanks for the lift.” She opened the door and jumped out, taking her rifle with her.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtx6ZVFgw4
“We’ll be in touch.” They drove off to get closer to the sawmill as Ezra got set up to snipe from the hilltop. She was a good three hundred meters away from the mill, perfect range for her and her rifle though.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloQP8ORzIa
The others made their way down to road to the sawmill. The ground down here was muddy but not an issue for the Humvee that tore through the soil. After getting down there and pressing the explosives as well as everyone getting themselves ready, they sounded the alarm, attaching all infected in the area. They started pouring in from every direction. Sometimes in groups up to the hundreds, but some by themselves. As they came, the group tore through them, triggering explosions when they came too close or a hoard too big came in. This zone had already been prepped previously for a hoard showdown, but had yet to been used, making the perfect place to do this.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu7jcmScUH
Ezra pulled back on the bolt, sliding it forward again before looking down the scope, shooting and taking the zombie’s head off. Cohen’s reinforcements pulled up, adding to the firepower.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5UG6gp3jT
They all clinked their drinks together before pulling them away and taking a sip. “To one helluva fight!”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqBYrK2xT5
Everyone cheered, filling the bar with cheers and laughter. No lives had been lost and only minor injuries inflicted, leaving everyone in high spirits. Even Ezra who was drinking a soda instead.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4fE7HxJlU
“So, tell me about all of you.” Aqil inquired. “You all hold your own well.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpnhXXXmgx
“Oh, are you sure?” Mack asked, receiving a nod from him. “Well, how much do you know about Biotech? Specifically the leader.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsqzXC7Afj
Aqil shrugged. “Not too much. Know it’s some rich guy.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpeiC1u8dO
“With a hot wife.” Ezra added in.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQeiyPCZfx
“I’m an ex-NCR soldier. I was sent by General Miller to protect Avery, LaCroix’s ‘hot wife’.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcNUCKHGbl
“Oh wow, the honor to be a babysitter.” Ezra laughed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnYnyUZZ0T
“Avery’s one tough bitch. She doesn’t need a babysitter, trust me.” Mack shook his head, laughing. “We’ve all worked with her.” He motioned towards Shaheen and Felix.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Ltax7Kuf
“Then why aren’t you protecting her now?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoyHHhNOiI
“Life still goes on, and they’ve got another baby on the way.” Mack shrugged casually. An uneasiness buried itself in Ezra’s stomach at the mention of a baby. Aqil looked over at her, before placing his hand on top of hers,
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlYhojJh19
“What--what about you two? Don’t let loud mouth outshine you.” Ezra attempted to continue the conversation.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXIof25NjC
“Let the loud mouth take this.” Mack held his phone up and walked out of the bar.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWCIbJvTYp
“I’m mostly the medic.” Shaheen stated. He was still wearing his keffiyeh, which Aqil recognized as his father used to wear one when he did outside work.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGk56qmAlMY
“I’m just a gunner.” Felix shrugged casually.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRqSLNORh6
“He’s more than just a gunner. He’s originally from the Soviet State of America.” Shaheen added. “That makes you more than special in my eyes, Felix.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73EMeaziuB
“I’ve only heard of the Soviet State.” Ezra spoke up, interested to hear more about it than what they were taught in school.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11cB6MjORE
“I didn’t live there too long.” He shook his head. “They don’t allow trans people, so I had to leave to seek refugee in Biotech, where it’s accepted.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnc0XKyaFx
“Oh wow, well I’m glad you found it.” Aqil looked at him in surprise, rarely having met someone who was trans, not out here, at least.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgPbo7KC2U
“I’ve got another job for you two.” Mack walked back into the bar. “We’ve got an ex-employee who got smuggled out here. He’s a traitor with information we can’t have getting out. We want him dead. You two down?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99PigFnJBg
“Sure.” Ezra glanced over at Aqil before confirming.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf91QYX1EAU
Outside The Walls
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcGVKZT12u
“Keep pace, Ezra.” Cohen looked behind at her as they jogged through the city streets. It was early enough in the morning that no one was out except guards, who they were careful not to be spotted by.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n0bT9xpuM
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuGedREju3
“Not yet, Ezra.” He shook his head, looking forward again. She followed him in silence until they found themselves at a warehouse on the edge of the wall. “Come in here.” He motioned her into the warehouse before lifting a grate, which he slipped inside. Ezra followed him without question, following him through a dark passage. Within a few minutes, they finally were on the other side of the barely-lit passage. Cohen knocked on the metal door in front of them, which was promptly opened by another buff man.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicUooTt662
“Where are we? Are we…on the other side of the wall?” Ezra asked quietly.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7ATVRdmB2
“We are.” Cohen smiled.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuwsktXi2v
“She looks young, Cohen.” The other man spoke up. “We shouldn’t bring her along.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU9u3p8mbZ
“She can hold her own.” Cohen shook his head. “She’s coming with us.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbODVG9Q9OA
“Fine, fine.” The other man held his hands up.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtttqX7kXL3
“Ezra. Today you’ll kill your first infected.” He faced her with a smile on his face.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQdtpJiKNH
An Easy Job
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniXbRG2PBt
It didn’t take them long to find the man they were after, as he had left obvious tracks of his presence. Before long, they were at the doorstep of the house he was hiding out in. Aqil kicked the door open, both walking in with guns out, mimicking an army of two.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IjcWJxIPa
“Hands up.” Ezra yelled as she saw a man cowering in the corner.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1nyzzzmQU
The man instantly put his hands up his face lit up by the flashlight on her pistol. “Please--please don’t shoot me.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6P5dnX1sh
“Sorry pal, that’s exactly what we were here to do.” Ezra shot, the center of his head turning red as he fell to the floor.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD5bzZU0Qi
“Easy enough, I guess.” Aqil sighed and he put his gun away.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lr6rbYPhX
A Prisoner of Circumstance
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblbFWS1vfF
“Kids.” Karim looked back down at Ezra and Aqil. “You’ll need to stay quiet. This is very important.” The two teens nodded in sync, not planning on talking out of turn. Karim took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqiK97xlpH
Karim greeted the receptionist, telling her they had an appointment. She pointed them up the elevator and to a different floor where his office was. They boarded the elevator, rode it, and got off on the right floor, walking into the man’s office.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrOL7qlU9I
“Jason Cadwell.” The man stood up, holding his hand out to Karim. Just by the look of him, they could tell he was a military man, likely NCR.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H6sd65CI7
“Karim.” He shook Jason’s hand before sitting down in one of the chairs.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1Rp8BWfiB
“You came to talk about your wife, correct?” Jason asked, sitting back down in his own chair.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFcrXrxbK5
“Yes. I would like to request she be transferred back here.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FAG3GxUB9
“I cannot do that, unfortunately.” Jason shook his head.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Ub7ZA4le
“Why? Why not?” Karim gripped tightly onto the chair. “She deserves to be here with her family.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgl2VGds7Q
“She is needed outside these walls.” He shook his head.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsgzaNV7RM
“This is bullshit.” Karim stood up, leaving both teens surprised as it was the first time they heard his curse. “Where is my wife?! Let me talk to her!” Karim leaned over the desk.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNKOP7v64j
“Do not yell at me.” Jason stood up. “Your wife is busy helping people and cannot be contacted.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWvg1q2As8
“She didn’t sign up for this!”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEnXLSRBa6
“Oh, but she did.” A smirk grew on the man’s face.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6u8bOAIVK
“What do you mean?”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf8WjNDtcr
“Your wife literally signed up to be sent out to the frontlines, outside the quarantine zone.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5PeTExyCo
“Jade…” Karim looked down sadly, before looking at the kids. “Come on, let’s go home.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfJU5uzA44
All Or Nothing At All
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hst7BIwb3
Ezra is lying down on the couch, watching the ceiling fan as it slowly rotates. The house is quiet except for the hum of the generator and the occasional hiss from the cockroaches. Aqil walked over and sat down next to her on the floor and tries to strike up a conversation. After a while of little progress, he got up and turned some music on and began dancing and signing along.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lH72SgaKU
“Play the funky music, white boy. Play that funky music, right!” He sang at the top of his lungs. He danced his way over to the couch, grabbing Ezra’s arm and pulling her up to her feet. She reluctantly began dancing along with him, but in time a smile grew on her face and she began singing along to some of their favorite songs.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT0RcRmTSS
Eventually, the record stopped, and Aqil put on an Al Bowlly album. They began to slow dance.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHJnX0EJwD
“I’ve finally made my mind up.” Ezra spoke quietly with her lips next to his ear. “I’m going to keep the baby, no matter what. I want to give this kid a good life, better than we’ve had.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOUsww3ljn
“I’m glad you figured out what you wanna do, Ez.” They continued to sway to the music as Aqil built up his courage before finally speaking. “Ezra. I love you.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwDbk839PV
“I love you too, Aqil.” Ezra spoke, her eyes closed as they swayed.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3G9SsubJ3
“No, Ez. I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. Watching you sleep with all those men broke me, and I just wanted it to be me. To give you a real relationship and support.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirfQeuOznK
Ezra pulled back from him to look in his eyes, both now standing still. “I’ve seen you as a brother for so long, I…” She trailed off.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCRpWG0C2h
“Whatever you choose, Ez. I’ll still love you and help you raise this child. But…I want to be more than just that. I want to be their father.”
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspZqcmkc2l
Ezra sat there for a while, thinking it over, thinking about how she had known for so long but denied herself of any kind of affection like that. But maybe it was time to open herself up to a real relationship, to someone who wouldn’t hurt her.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhvgD0Hahp
Ezra stepped forward, kissing Aqil.
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7NbwqY6mW
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYqfyhaZlx
