Page 38 of Surviving Her

The flood of post-climax hormones left them both feeling weightless, suspended in a shared euphoria. River held Eliza close, the connection between them making them forget the rest of the world.

As the first pale light of dawn seeped through the cracks in the cabin walls, River and Eliza lay tangled in each other’s arms, their breath steady as the weight of the night before lingered between them. The world beyond felt distant, a ghost that could wait as long as they wanted it to.

River shifted slightly, her lips curving into a small, satisfied smile as she gazed at Eliza. “Isn’t this situation just…crazy? We saved my dad—well, you saved my dad, and we found each other in the process, but only after the world turned upside down, chewed us up, and spat us out.”

Eliza’s smile was soft and knowing. She reached for River, her fingers brushing lightly across her back as if to confirmher presence. “We certainly did that,” she murmured, drawing her closer. “And now we’ve got to move forward and see what’s next.”

They lay like that for a while before taking turns to check on Thomas.

River watched Eliza get out of bed and smiled to herself. She felt something deep inside her—the certainty, the quiet strength that had been forged in the space between them. There was no need to say it out loud. The feeling she had for Eliza was like nothing she’d felt before. And now River had her by her side to face the challenges ahead. She knew they’d make it through this, one step at a time.

EPILOGUE

One Year Later

Eliza stood at the edge of the communal garden. She watched as the others went about their daily tasks—Peter tending to the crops, Lily gathering herbs for the medical supplies, and Marcus and Jared working on the newest cabin.

Wow…those guys are nuts. How do they get those things up so fast?

The once-abandoned forest had become their sanctuary, a place where they’d built something new, something they could actually call home.

A year ago, this had seemed impossible. They’d been a ragtag group of survivors, just barely scraping by, with no idea if they’d even make it through the winter. But now, they had not only survived—they’d thrived. The cabins, though simple, were sturdy and warm, built from the very trees that surrounded them. The garden was flourishing, providing them with a steady supply of vegetables and herbs. And most importantly, they had each other.

The infected sometimes tried to approach, but they’d been able to hold them off. Makeshift traps, trenches, and hand-carved spears lined the fencing of their sanctuary.

Eliza’s mind wandered back to the early days of their settlement, when everything had felt so precarious and every day had been a struggle to find food, keep warm, and protect themselves from the dangers that lurked beyond the trees. But now they’d found a rhythm, a way of life that made sense. Each person had their role, whether it was hunting (game or the infected, depending on the day), building, teaching the children, or tending to the weak and sick. Together, they’d built something to be proud of.

“Eliza! Hey! There you are!”

Eliza turned to see Lily hurrying toward her, a basket of freshly picked herbs in her arms. The younger woman’s face was flushed from the morning’s work, her auburn hair pulled back into a tight, smooth bun. She was one of the brightest souls in their community, always eager to help and full of energy.

“I swear I’ve been looking for you all morning,” Lily said, setting the basket down on the ground. “Were you napping?”

“Yes, I’ve been exhausted lately. I think it’s too many late nights on the watch.”

“It’s just that we’ve got a couple patients in the medical cabin. It’s nothing too serious, just some cuts and bruises from chopping wood, but I was thinking you’d want to take a look. What do you reckon?”

Eliza smiled. “What do I reckon? Let’s go, Lily.”

They walked together toward the medical cabin, passing by the others as they worked. Eliza waved to Marcus and Jared, who were sweating buckets as they hammered away at the frame of the new cabin. They’d become the de facto builders of the community, always eager to lend a hand when new arrivals needed shelter.

“Keep at it, boys!” Eliza shouted as she walked past.

“We’re burning up too many calories here!” cried Marcus, winking at Eliza and flashing her a toothy grin. “Where’s River? We need some real muscle here!”

They passed by the central firepit, where several people were preparing for lunch. Clara, the schoolteacher, was kneeling next to a group of children, showing them how to properly clean and gut a fish—a skill they’d need as they grew older. Clara’s face lit up when she saw Eliza approaching.

“Eliza! Good morning, sweetie! Are you coming by the school later? The kids are dying to learn more about your medical skills. They really enjoyed your talk last week,” Clara called out with a grin.

Eliza laughed. “I’ll stop by after I’m done in the medical cabin. Okay?”

The children giggled, crowding around Clara, who was already moving on to the next thing, her teaching as much a part of their daily life as any other task. The small school they’d set up in one of the older cabins had become the heart of the settlement. It wasn’t much, just a few benches and a chalkboard salvaged from the ruins of a nearby town, but it was enough. The children learned reading, math, geography, history, and art. Clara had made it her mission to ensure they had knowledge that went beyond mere survival skills.

Lily elbowed Eliza gently. “They’re really learning, you know? It brings them purpose.”

Eliza smiled, but there was a flicker of nervousness behind her eyes. She loved the idea of the children being excited and learning, but the reality of raising children in this world weighed on her constantly.

Do those kids know how dangerous the outside world is yet?

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