Apocalypsis 04 - Haven

meadow. Anywhere. But I have to be naked.”
    “I can handle that.”
    “Maybe, maybe not.” It felt good to be teasing with a boy again, especially because it was Paci. I stopped when we reached the hallway, because the realization that Bodo was leaving hit me again and sobered me up quickly. But a piece of me, a very small piece, wasn’t as desperately sad as it had been just an hour ago.
    ***
    About half of the citizens of Haven showed up for Bodo and Gail’s departure. Gail remained silent yet furious throughout the entire process, but she wasn’t so stupid that she didn’t take the backpack full of supplies that was offered to her.
    Winky stood next to me at the fence. “She sure is a peach, isn’t she?”
    “A rotten one,” I said, quietly so no one else would hear.
    Bodo stopped at the exit and turned around. I walked over to say goodbye, and everyone else dropped away.
    “I guess diss is for goodbye den,” he said, looking down at me.
    “Yes.” I began to cry. It didn’t matter that he’d lied. He was still the boy who’d joined my little gang when all I had were Peter and Buster. He became a part of my family that day under the overpass. “You don’t have to go,” I whispered. “You can change your mind.”
    “Yes, I do haff to go,” he said, crying too. “Dis is da best for us. You know dat. I will send you a message with da birds. I promise. Okay?” He reached out and stroked my cheek. “You are a beautiful and strong girl who I am ferry, ferry lucky to haff in my life. I luff you forever and ever, all times. Never forget it.”
    “I won’t. I love you too, you big jerk.” I laughed through my tears. It was so ridiculous that we were saying goodbye. “This world is so fucked up,” I said.
    “Yes. But it’s ferry interesting, too, don’t you think?” He smiled and wiped his tears off with his forearm. “I’m goingk to wrestle dis tiger all da way to da sea where da Amazons live and den maybe I will go to da Keys. I will sendt you a bird if I go dare too, you will see.”
    “I hope so.” I reached up to hug him and let myself be enveloped in his love for a few seconds. His familiar smell washed over me and made me sob.
    I finally had to push him away. “Go before I make you stay.” I wiped my cheeks off with both hands.
    Winky walked up. “Don’t forget me, you big dope.” She reached up and got her hug from Bodo. Several others came over for a handshake or goodbye, too.
    The last one to approach was Paci. He held out his hand. “Good luck, Bodo. I wish you well. Send us a message when you get settled.”
    Bodo stared at his hand for a couple seconds and then took it in his. He shook it hard, his grip firm. “I will. Watch out for Bryn. She needts you.”
    Paci nodded. “Got it.”
    Bodo left without another word or backward glance.
    I stayed there at the gate until I couldn’t see him anymore.
    I cried off and on the entire day, avoiding everyone’s company, finally retiring to my bed right after dinner.
    I woke up briefly in the middle of the night to find that Peter had come in at some point and fallen asleep next to me on my narrow bunk, while Buster and Freak-the-Cat were dozing in a pile at my feet.
    In the middle of the night in a prison cell no bigger than my old bedroom closet, I learned that it was impossible for me to feel completely lost and alone when surrounded by so much love.
    ***
    I was working outside helping to build a more permanent bathroom structure when Jenny came running out to find me. Paci was standing on a ladder, hammering in some nails, and I was holding the board in place for him. Paci and I, along with three others, made up the latrine crew. In two weeks we’d finished separate shower facilities and now this project.
    “Bryn, Paci … I got a message.”
    Paci slipped the hammer into the belt at his waist and took the nails out of his mouth. “Good news I hope.”
    “No. I don’t think so. You’d better come in.”
    I dropped the board where it was and followed her. Paci put the nails in his tool belt’s attached pockets and jumped down off the ladder, catching up to us quickly.
    Jenny spoke as she neared the bird cages. “It’s weird actually. I got two messages.”
    “And that’s what’s weird? Two of them?” I asked, not sure I understood.
    “Well, take a look.” She reached inside a box that rested on top of the cages, taking out a small booklet. She put the box back and opened the book up to page she had