Mayberry

The town of May berry was a ghost town and had been since the beginning of the pandemic. The outbreak spread quickly and ferociously, killing almost everyone in its wake. Within a few days, a dry cough could emasculate even the strongest and healthiest of men. In May berry, the population had plummeted from a thriving metropolitan city to a desolate town. The streets were barren, like a skeleton stripped bare of skin and flesh and all that remained were empty concrete structures and buildings. Tim was one of the few people who survived, the only being of warm blood and flesh miles away. His footsteps echoed like stones off a cave wall upon the asphalt as he made his way into an abandoned supermarket in search for food. The time was 5pm in the afternoon and the sun was beginning to set as the night prepared to settle. His stomach growled for sustenance at the thought of food.

Tim peered through the hastily brushed-streaked window where the coating was at its thinnest and into the interior inside the derelict store. He recalled how not long ago, this store would have been bustling with regular customers but now the shelves were almost stripped naked and the store stood shrouded in gloom. The foul mouldy stench of rotten sandwiches, fruit and stale milk assaulted Tim's senses. He held his jumper to his nose to block out the putrid stench. He drove straight to the can food aisle and loaded his black duffel bag to the brim with food. Instead of waiting until he arrived home to eat, Tim opened a can of baked beans and engulfed its contents. The sweet and earthy taste of the tomato electrified his taste buds, the sensation was almost euphoric.

From afar, the sound of a loud clatter echoed through the store. His heart raced at the thought of meeting another survivor in this town only to be surprised by the sight of a small animal covered in light brown fur as it searched the bin for any sign of food. A puppy had snuck into the store not long after Tim had broken in, likely with the intention to find food to fill its stomach. It's mother was nowhere to be seen.

Tim stood there for a few moments wondering what to do before he saw that the puppy had noticed his presence and watched him with its tail between its legs. Tim noticed that the puppy was very skinny and looked like it had not eaten for days which made him feel pity for the poor thing. He opened a can of tuna from his bag and crouched down to place it on the floor. Slowly, the puppy walked over to the canned tuna and wagged its tail side to side from the excitement of food. It gulped down the food hastily as if it had forgotten Tim was crouched down right in front of it which caused him to smile and stroke its head gently. He felt warmth and happiness for the first time after his friends and family had left him alone in this town.

Tim watched the little golden retriever as it inhaled the can of tuna and began to clean up the remaining traces of food.

"Hey little buddy, wanna come with me?"

The puppy looked up to him with a satisfied look and wagged its tail as if it had understood what he had said. Tim smiled happily at his new companion whom he will probably spend the next few years with and began to think of a name for his friend.

"Buddy. Let's take you to your new home."

Tim picked it up with one arm and headed to the exit of the convenience store. Once he took a step outside he was greeted by the light of the setting sun which filled him with the nostalgia of the times he had watched the sunset with his family, only this time, he shared it with his new companion.