1 The Tracks

The crisp autumn air flooded her lungs with one step outside. The smell of rusted copper lingered for blocks. As she walked the smell of the tracks faded and her cheeks burned of a scarlet color. She dreaded the day it would snow. Quickly shade her way six blocks, buildings lay on the ground and rubble decorated the roads. The way of the world had drastically changed since she was a child but she clung to the memory of a beautiful town. When she was young these streets would be decorated with spooky lights and little black bats. orange and black would be plastered on the front of buildings religiously every year. Nothing is the same anymore.

Finally she reached her destination. She walked in to the market. Carol stood at her stand where she was selling eggs and bread. Rose remembered the day Carol announced to the town of a gift she received of 6 chickens. It had been the happest day since the last bombing. Rose smiled at the older women, " Good afternoon love, how many eggs ya have?" Carol's voice was as soft and light as you'd expect an angels to be. "Four dozen Rosie." The nickname came from a good place but it no longer gave Rose the same happy feeling it once did. she bought her loaf of bread and 1/2 a dozen of eggs and went on to other stands. making her weekly rounds purchasing all she'd need the next six days. On her way out Susan Macky had small, bright orange pumpkins surrounding her stand. "How much do these cost love?" Susan smiled, "they were a gift so I'm not charging for them. take one if you'd like to". Rose picked a small enough one she could carrying it along with her bag. As she got closer and closer to her home the smell of rusted copper grew.