[ IP ] Beautiful escape [ ex-post from /r/MorbidlyBeautiful/ ]

It was nearly dark outside by the time he made it back to the building where he had left her. Inside, the already-dim light was scantily spread about the room by the cracks and holes that decorated the walls. He gave his eyes a minute to adjust and began shuffling his way through the rubble that had become their shelter. 
 
 `` Caitlyn?'' 
 
 It still felt strange hearing himself call her by name but he did n't have the energy to walk her through the state of confusion that the title `` mother'' would inevitably bring. 
 
 `` I could n't find anymore peaches but the second lot over behind Weaver High must have had an entire pantry full of green beans and cream of mushroom.'' He felt around with his foot until it bumped against the pile of wood they used to fuel the adjacent fireplace and began carefully unloading the bounty of the day's scavenging. `` You did n't lose the matches again did you?'' 
 
 His left hand gingerly explored the top of the mantle piece until the soft rattle of the matchbox relieved his anxiety. `` I'm sorry I came back late again.'' He listened, made uneasy by a pang of guilt. The familiar voice wafting from the three-legged sofa in the middle of the room hummed a different tune today. 
 
 `` What's that you're singing?'' 
 
 `` It's our song'' 
 
 The reply made him uncomfortable but he humored her, `` oh? it sounds different.'' 
 
 She giggled. `` do n't be silly'' 
 
 He set about about making the fire, turning his back to make sure she could n't see the despair escape through his heavy sigh. 
 
 `` John, I want us to go back to Europe. Remember how pretty it was?'' He could n't even remember his father. Just pictures and the closet full of old clothes and shoes that was never emptied. 
 
 `` I do n't think it would be as nice as you remember it'' 
 
 `` Of course it would! I was just thinking of the hotel we stayed the first night of our honeymoon..'' 
 
 He balked at the suggestion in her tone, `` Listen, Mo..Caitlyn'' even in the fast fading light he could make out the stiffening of her frail frame. `` I'm just not sure if.. things are n't looking very good out there'' He struck a match and set it to the kindling structure he had finished erecting. The flames lit her confused face and it seemed he could see the frustration waxing with the firelight. 
 
 `` I have n't seen any people since the Fadors left. It's been more than a month now. No planes in the sky, no passersbys, no functioning electronics of anykind. I'm afraid that maybe.. maybe there's nothing left.'' 
 
 Panic flashed red and orange in her eyes. `` What are you saying John? Are you leaving me?'' flames began to glisten down her cheeks. 
 
 `` No! Mom, just listen to me!'' Her face melted into horror. Her voice became shrill and threatened. 
 
 `` Who are you!? Where is John!?'' 
 
 It was too much. The frustration brimmed over his eyes as he bolted from the room to the sound of her sobs, falling over a brick heap on his way out. 
 
 Outside he laid on his back and let the newly shining stars streak across his face as he waited for the sobs inside to quiet and the familiar humming to start a new song.
