The Inevitable End

Greedily she engorged without restraint,

And knew not eating death;

“Wherein lies th’offense, that man should thus attain to know?” 

Paradise Lost, Book 9, lines 725-6

Issac 

As a young man, I thought the world wondrous and bright.

I was Job, and the Lord had gifted me with plenty; a strong body, a sharp mind, then later, a beautifuul wife and child, and a teaching job that I loved. I had so many ideals back then: I would dedicate my life to students. I would teach them how to think, how to ask true questions about the world around them. I would raise up a strong family who loved the Lord. 

But there was only one question I asked him when it began. 

Why have you abandoned us?

Because the day the lights went out, I could save no one. All of my teachings meant nothing. All that mattered was survival, and the words I’d once loved, the prayers that had once been my bread and butter, now fell on deaf ears.

If you had told me that in a matter of weeks my life would be reduced to water, food, ammunition and gasoline, I wouldn’t have believed you. 

No one would have.

Because when the lights went off, when the light of civilization flickered out, we all found out who we really were. We found the ugly truths that couldn’t hide behind filters, lenses, books or stories. 

We found inside us demons and heroes, cowards and warriors. 

I wasn’t prepared. No one was. 

How do you prepare for something as inevitable as the end? 

Parker

I had only three problems in my life the day the lights went out; Tania Travon’s tongue, a beat-up copy of Paradise Lost, and taking my team to state.

“The party tonight is gonna be so fun.” Tania rubbed her hands up and down my chest, then pulled me closer, pressing her boobs into me, and crushing her mouth against mine. I closed my eyes, pressing my lips against hers so she couldn’t talk. When we were this close I could almost imagine she was the girl I wanted to be kissing.

Almost.

Her tongue flicked against mine. Sure, she was only making out with me because  I’d taken our football team to state, and was planning to do it again with our lacrosse team. 

Did I care? 

Hell no. 

The bell rang and she pulled back, her lips in a pout. “So are you coming to the party tonight? Maybe you and I can finally….?” She trailed off suggestively.

“Course I’ll be there,” I flashed her a smile, then extracted myself from her surprisingly strong grip. “See you tonight,” I called over my shoulder. Her smile was a bit forced: I prolly should have kissed her goodbye or something stupid like that, but I had to get to English early.

I shouldered my way through the crowd, calling out to others as they went and then finally made it the class.

My stomach turned over when I saw her.

It was the same feeling I got everytime I stepped onto the football field; terror and bliss in equal parts. Her thick, curly black hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail, and she twisted a piece that had fallen free. She wore the same green bomber jacket she always did, a slight frown on her face as she read the book held out in front of her.

I took a deep breath, positioning my own copy of Paradise Lost on the edge of my binders. Then, striding across the hall, I bumped my shoulder into her extended arm, sending my own copy of Paradise Lost spinning across the floor. 

Her eyes flicked up, “Oh sorry! I wasn’t paying attention.”

“No, it was my fault.”

She bent to pick up the book the same time I did, our hands touching for a moment. I let her scoop it up from the floor, her eyes scrunching together in surprise, and doing a double take from me to the book. 

“Are you reading Paradise Lost too? That’s so funny, I just started re-reading it for an article I’m writing.”

“Oh really?” I said, as if I had no idea.

“Of Man’s First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste. Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,” she said with a smile, looking expectantly at me.

I stared at her like a total idiot. How was it the Varsity Quarterback— the guy every girl wanted— couldn’t manage a single coherent thought when talking to Rainie? Of course I’d spark-noted it, but I hadn’t expected her to quote it to me. “Oh ummm, I don’t think I’ve got to that part yet,” I said lamely. 

She dropped the book back on my binder, and then leaned forward and whispered. “It’s the first line, Parker.” She turned and walked into the class. 

Maybe I should have been disheartened, but instead I smiled. 

With all the confidence of youth, I walked into the classroom, clutching Paradise Lost in my hands, all to eager for the first bite of the fruit. 

Ten minutes later, the lights went off. 

They never came back on. 

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