Page 4 of Resistant

“What does that mean? Wyatt? What does this mean?” I feel the panic rise in my throat.

“I’m not sure, babe. If the chatter I’ve been hearing about the bill is true, we should consider moving.” Deep worry lines crease his forehead and I’ve never seen Wyatt look so disturbed.

“You are kidding, right? Why would we have to move?”

“Babe, if the federal government is taking private sector industry over, we will have supply chain shortages. Times might be rough for a while before they figure everything out. The garden we were going to plant next spring might need to be done now. Our best option is to plant in containers so we can take them with us. We will need our own food sources,” he drags a hand through his hair, and it stands on end.

“I thought the whole reason we moved here is because it’s fairly remote. This is small town life. Why isn’t this remote enough?”

Wyatt shakes his head, “I don’t know Brynn. It might be. But maybe not.”

The next few weeks pass in a blur. We do all we can to assure the boys that it’s going to be okay.

As the implementation of the new laws roll out, there is divisiveness among American citizens. Protests have become commonplace in the cities.

I find myself terrified of leaving our little homestead because of the violence. Polarization of ideals has infected our small town, people either being for an ideal or adamantly against it.

“Babe, what’s your opinion on why all this political change is happening now? I don’t understand why limiting our rights is the answer to anything.”

He shrugs. “The last few years the pendulum has swung too far politically to both extremes and people like us who are more moderate have gotten lost in the noise. It’s a matter of time before chaos and violence become widespread.”

“Really?”

“Well, yeah if the past is any indication.”

And it turns out, he’s right. It’s a few weeks before we get reports of people being executed by the New Reform in the streets. Fires burn down entire towns, only char and rubble left. The death toll climbs at an alarming rate.

Power outages occur at random times and increase in frequency all over the country. The New Reform methodically takes over utility and private business. Mysteriously, companies that do not profess alliance to the New Reform go bankrupt or are destroyed by protestors and fire.

The New Reform alters eminent domain laws and takes ownership of privately owned cell towers, and communication becomes difficult. The internet is now government controlled. We lose touch with our family and friends across the country and our isolation becomes normal. I try not to freak out about any of this but it’s very hard for me. I find myself daydreaming about my loved ones imagining new lives for them, lives that are impossible in this environment.

The supply chains shut down, and only the ultra-rich can get supplies. Wyatt and I stockpile whatever we can. I work hard, knowing there will likely be times when we won’t be able to find food and supplies.

Within a couple of months, we begin to barter for what we need, and illegal black markets spring up to fill in the gaps.

Our old farmhouse was abandoned for many years, so the basement is filled with all the previous family’s stuff. Wyatt digs an old rotary phone out of the basement and plugs it into the wall. Because our house is remote, we still have a landline for emergencies. I often unplug it because the boys constantly want to play with the phone. The clicks and whoosh clatter through the house as they turn the dial over and over. It’s one of the few joys I find during these trying times.

Most terrifying of all, Wyatt teaches us how to fight, and how to use all the weapons we have in our house. We spend hours practicing in our homemade range made from scrap wood and old cans. This necessity causes me to panic regularly, and I use my anxiety to fuel myself in our drills. I exhaust myself to shut off my brain.

He brings home hens, and a big 65-pound, slobbery goof of a dog named Lily from the shelter. She’s light brown all over with a sloppy white circle around her left eye. She believes she’s a 25-pound child, leaping into my lap for snuggles.

Wyatt puts her through rigid obedience training. The kids and I all get trained too, so she’ll respond to each of us. He trains her to fight and protect.

She has become his shadow and is prone to giving me a giant slobbery lick on my calf as they both move past me in the house or the yard. I feed her, so I’m her favorite after Wyatt. Wyatt is her master, and she is so devoted to him she would follow him into a fiery grave. I know exactly how she feels.

It seems like our lives changed dramatically overnight and I find it difficult to cope. Everything is happening so fast. I can’t keep up and I find myself looking to Wyatt to direct me into the next thing, so I don’t have to process all the change.

I’m scared to go into town by myself, which I think brings Wyatt relief. Nathan and Lily are charged with babysitting duty when we venture out.

Our town has changed just like everything else. People retreat to themselves. The streets are eerily quiet. Gatherings are canceled. I miss going to church and feel an emptiness that I don’t know how to fill.

My husband comes home one afternoon clutching a flyer recruiting men to build an army and overthrow the government.

This is it, war,treason.

I read through it look to him questioningly. He clamps his jaw and won’t look me in the eye.

How are we going to survive without him?

---