[ IP ] The Long Road

Many moments passed, as I stood there and stared. Any distance longer than this I certainly could not have bared, it had been days since last we had food. Finally something comes into view as we roll over what looks to be the last of hills, on this stretch of road. There is a city, and though it ’ s hard to say which this is, by my count this one is friendly, from the description Jordan left with us. We should be in California, now. 
 
 My mother always told me stories, of what it used to be, of the abundance and good faith we all held equally, in this place. Once upon a time there were names for everything, and though not all of it has been lost, it would surprise, I think, any outsider looking in how quickly we forgot. 
 
 With the dry came fires, and with the winters ice, with the rains came floods, and with men fighting. Wars were waged, until none more could be contained. Some places were utterly destroyed, we had it better, I have been told. The wars ended, but the fighting has never stopped. 
 
 “ Kara! ” 
 
 Elena called, though her voice weaker than normal, it reverberates with the strength of a woman, who had just walked over 1000 miles. We have been on the road months, together. We left Colorado as resources were becoming slim, and tensions rising. We didn ’ t want to end up like the other failed attempts at resettlement, we wanted to live. 
 
 Maybe it has always been this way, out West will be better. It will be true. We will find out soon enough. Other wanderers mentioned cities that have maintained peace, and are welcoming, though selective, of newcomers. The foothills of the Sierra Nevada ’ s hold a few on the California side. 
 
 I didn ’ t reply to her call, I resumed my walk and descended from the overpass upon which I was standing. There was little strength left within, but enough inspiration from the site just seen to let a gentle jog carry me closer to Elena. 
 
 “ What do you think? ” Elena looked at me, with concern, and hope. 
 
 “ I think it looks like, the only… ” I let my words trail off, as their message was already a prominent figure in Elena ’ s mind, I was sure. 
 
 We were both hungry. Our water low, and our memories of the last big settlement were all too vivid in both of our minds. It was wise to skirt the edges of Reno, perhaps we would not be here if we hadn ’ t been so cautious. 
 
 “ I know. ” Elena was again staring at the city, towers reaching feebly toward the sky. 
 
 “ We haven ’ t come so far. These people might trade with Nevada. ” 
 “ That doesn ’ t make them the same, besides we have no choice. We need to resupply. ” I looked into Elena ’ s eyes, and did my best to show none of the worry I felt inside. 
 
 “ We should approach the last few miles off of the main road, you think? Like we did in Reno. ” 
 
 I nodded my agreement, and replied 
 
 “ But, lets be careful, we don ’ t want to walk right into a camp of bandits, like we almost did. ” 
 
 She nodded. We began walking again forward. 
 
 To the only future we ever could have had, and never guessed. 
 
 It was lucky we walked this road, to these hills, where the spirit remained alive and intact, despite all this world had faced. 

