The Sins of Our Fathers

Standing in the middle of a whirlwind of destruction, Astra pondered how things got to this point in the world. She takes a deep breath as she looks around. Did she cause this destruction? Was it her that threw the lemon-yellow bus up onto the bridge? Did she send the train rocketing across the skyscraper that landed in the middle of the hotel? The gaping hole in the middle of the four corners of main street that looked like a rocket landed. “Was that my doing?” She asked herself. The town looked like a miniature Lego model that a toddler ransacked while having a temper tantrum. There was no blood, no dismembered bodies, no screaming, no actual signs of any life at all. For a moment, Astra thought this must be a dream. She leapt up and screamed. “Wake up, for the love of god, wake up!” Astra was not sleeping though. “Where are am I?” she shouted. “What happened here and why am I alone?” Astra started walking down main street looking closer at the destruction. She chuckled slightly when she walked by a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket that used to sit on top of a pole in front of the store and now it is precariously perched in the middle of the weight watchers digital display sign. The newly opened Cannabis store went completely up in smoke. Every single shop has been destroyed and after walking around the devastation for more than two hours, Astra had still not been able to find a living soul. Astra, now talking out loud as if to her best friend. “Am I okay? My head is okay, I am awake, I’m not bleeding or hurt in anywhere.” Astra moved her hands around her head inspecting for injuries only to find none. “But wait, I cannot remember what happened here. Okay, Astra,” she mumbles quietly. “What is the last thing you can remember?” She jumped up full saddle on a large, sculpted bull. The shimmering bronze blinded her briefly as she settled into position and closed her eyes so tight, they were pulsating. “Think,” she said. “Think!” Astra shouted to herself. While trying to jump start her memories she drifted off into a deep sleep, so deep she didn't even wake up when she fell off the bull statue. Astra slept soundly for 3 days. When she finally woke up, she felt completely rejuvenated. She felt strong and ready to tackle pretty much anything. She started going over what she could remember. “I am Astra, and I am 21 years old. I work as an electrician...Wait no that doesn’t sound right. Was it computers? I have a mom and her name is Elizabeth or was it, Karen? A dad...dang do I have a dad? I suppose I would have to have a dad...Right?” she asked herself while patting the bronzed bull on the face. “I think I have a brother, but what is his name? Or was it a sister? Maybe It’s just me.” Astra picked up a can of creamed corn from the road throwing it with all her might shouting in frustration. Why was this so hard? “Why can’t I remember more and where the hell is everyone?” Astonished, Astra was shocked as she watched as the can of creamed corn fly up into the sky, past the clouds and quite possibly right into orbit. Suddenly, there is a loud roaring sound like a large bowling ball that has just been launched down the alley that came out of nowhere filling her ear drums. Every hair on Astra’s body stands up and there is a great crackling sound in the sky. Day seems to turn to night instantly and then a grand display of lightning like nothing she had ever seen before. Well that she can remember. It seemed to dance as if trying to entice her to come closer. She should be afraid, but instead she felt at peace. As if she was being rewarded for a grand slam home run, the lightning continued to dance for her. Slowly it faded and the day light returned. Astra was now even more confused. “How was I able to do that? Where did that strength come from? What the hell was that?” Astra thought out loud. Nothing was making any sense. The town looked like it had gone ten rounds with the devil and lost. Questions plagued her mind begging to be answered, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t remember a thing. “HELLO!” Astra shouted to the sky. Dropping her hands to her sides she looked around a frown now on her face. No one called back to her, all she heard was her voice reverberate off the vacant buildings. Letting out a loud frustrated sigh Astra began searching through the town again. There had to be some clue as to what happened, why she was here, and maybe even who she was. All Astra could remember was her name and that she for sure had a mother named Elizabeth or Karen. Searching through what was left of the buildings Astra found a cozy looking apartment. Making herself at home she found herself a little snack before retiring to the bedroom for some much-needed sleep. Even though she had just spent three days out cold, she still felt drained. It was nothing a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed couldn’t cure. Walking into the bedroom she launched herself into the air, belly flopping onto the bed. Sinking into the plush blanket and soft pillows, Astra’s eyes slowly began to droop, sleep beckoned her. She could no longer fight it giving into the heavy weight of exhaustion falling fast to sleep. “Day 14. Good morning, Mr. Pokey how are we today?” Astra tipped her imaginary hat to the cactus in the living room of the apartment she is now residing in. Walking out onto the road she stretched her arms up in the air. It had been fourteen days and still she was alone with no memory. “Looking good Bob.” Astra shot finger guns at the wacky inflatable man in front of the car dealership. Somehow it was still on, flailing its body and arms around with a big smile on its face. It must be nice to be carefree. The wacky inflatable man had it made over their dancing around happy to just be flailing his arms. “How’s it going Reggie? I will get a coffee to go please.” Astra said skipping into the Starbucks. Like everywhere in this town it was deserted, no one in sight. Astra walked around the counter high fiving a carboard cut out of a man throwing his hand in the air an excited smile on his face. She had found it in a clothing store on day two, and by day four she had placed it in the coffee shop. Turning the coffee machine on Astra whistled to herself grabbing everything she needed to make herself a much-needed delicious cup of coffee. Crouching down Astra worked her magic on the stereo system bringing it to life as Baby got back by Sir Mix-a-lot boomed through the speakers. Bobbing her head, she continued to work on making herself coffee. “I like big butts and I cannot lie.” Astra hit the on button to the machine. “You other brothers cannot deny.” Twirling a cup in her hand she reached across the counter grabbing the sugar. “When a girl walks in w…” “Hello?” A man’s voice cut through the song; Astra squealed in surprise dropping her cup as it collided with the ground shattering to pieces. Slowly turning around Astra couldn’t help her mouth from dropping in surprise to see a man standing on the other side of the counter. Without thinking it through she jumped onto the counter leaping into the air knocking the man to the ground. “Are you real?” Astra asked while pressing her hands on his face. Moving her hands, she squished his face before running her fingers through his hair. Her eyes searching all over him in amazement until she heard him loudly clear his throat making her freeze her searching hands. “Oh sorry.” Astra chuckled getting off the man standing back up. “I am Astra, and you are?” Astra held her hand out, a big friendly smile on her face. “Oliver.” The man grunted slowly standing back up on his feet before he reached out shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you Ollie ole boy.” Astra said in her best old timey voice doing a little jig before she turned on her heels going back to the counter. Crawling back over the counter she made her way back to the machine to finish making the coffee. “Coffee?” Astra asked turning her back to him now focusing back on the machine. “Yes. Please.” “What’s your poison?” “Poison?” Oliver asked tilting his head in confusion. “Yeah. Do you take sugar, milk, caramel drizzle?” Astra kept her back to him pouring the hot steaming liquid into two mugs. “Oh, umm just two sugars and a splash of milk please.” “Coming right up!” Astra finished making his coffee turning back to face him. Sliding the cup across the counter she nodded her head at him to take a sip. She couldn’t help but feel excited to see what he thought of her barista skills. These fourteen days she had only been making coffee for herself, but now she wasn’t alone. There was another caffeine crazed person to share with. “Mm thank you I really needed this.” Oliver said taking another sip of the coffee. “Anytime I’m here seven days a week, twenty-four seven.” Picking up her own coffee she took a big gulp revelling in the heat that ran down her throat and straight to her tummy. Closing her eyes, she couldn’t help but let out a moan before taking another big gulp. “How long have you been here?” Oliver cut through the silence while they had been drinking their coffee. “Fourteen days and counting.” “W-what happened here?” Oliver asked placing his now empty cup down on the counter. Looking up from her cup she could tell he was barely holding it together. He looked scared and confused, and she knew exactly how he was feeling. “I don’t know. I woke up here all alone with no memory of what happened here. To be honest I don’t really have any memory of my life before waking up.” Shrugging her shoulders, she took another gulp of her coffee looking away from him. “Wow.” Oliver said. “You have been here all alone for fourteen days?” “Yup.” Grabbing his cup, she walked over to the sink quickly cleaning both mugs before putting them in a dish rack nearby to air dry. Looking over at Oliver her eyes roamed up and down his body taking him all in. He was a lot taller than she was at least a foot taller. He had to be well over six feet, she herself is five foot eight. He stood there with broad shoulders and what looked to be a very maintained body. Maybe he was a personal trainer or an athlete? Biting her bottom lip, she imagined him yelling at some poor client to keep pushing. Chuckling to herself shaking her head and herself from her little daydream. “Do you remember anything?” Looking up at him their eyes met. “I remember my name is Oliver. Last thing I remember was leaving my apartment to go to work, and then I woke up here. I don’t know how I got here or why.” “You remember your life before here?” “Sort of. I remember my job, I was…. I am a photographer.” Oliver looked away from her running his hand through his hair. “Oooh, that’s cool. Did you make a lot of money from it?” Astra asked dropping her elbows onto the counter leaning her head in her hands, her eyes watching him with excitement. “I... I don’t remember.” Oliver rubbed his hand on the back of his neck nervously breaking his eyes from her to look down at the floor. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” “It’s okay.” Oliver said looking back over at her with a small smile. Climbing onto the counter she slid to the other side hoping down. As her feet hit the floor, she shot her hands up as if she was a professional gymnast landing one of her tricks. “Come on let me give you the tour.” Astra said grabbing onto his arm practically yanking him out of the coffee shop. She practically dragged him around the small town showing him all her usual hangs, and where everything was from the grocery store to the mini mall. Once she was sure she had sufficiently showed him around town she decided to bring him to her crash pad. “And this is home sweet home.” Astra swung the door open walking into the apartment flinging her arms as if to say ta da! “I don’t know whose apartment this was before, maybe it was mine or not. Either way it has become my little crash pad.” “Mr. Pokey.” Astra said shooting finger guns towards the cactus. “Mr. Pokey?” “Oh, how rude Oliver this is Mr. Pokey my cactus.” “You named your cactus?” “Yup.” Astra said popping the p. “Don’t you name your plants?” Turning on her heels she looked up at him, her head tilting as she studied his confused face. “Cut me some slack I have been all alone for 14 days. He’s like my Wilson, except I am not stranded on an island and Mr. Pokey isn’t a ball.” Astra said shrugging her shoulders before turning around and heading over to the couch.