Weldon+Vignette

“Wendy. Lily. Allie. Wake up. Grab your bags. Dad and I have your flashlights. Don’t make any noise!”

I opened my eyes to my mom whispering to my sisters and me. I got up, grabbed what I had packed the night before, and followed my mom outside. The air was warm, but the thoughts going through my mind made my shiver. I knew exactly where we were going because I had studied the route all week. No one spoke a word, but I knew what everyone was thinking.

Three months ago, my family and I were fortunate to make our way to Germantown in the early days of the first flood, but now the others are beginning to get suspicions that we’re not from here. My mom and dad know that our family is in danger if we don’t get out of Germantown quick. My mom is weak because she caught the disease, and my sisters and I don’t know where to find the medication she needs. My parents talked about going down to Atlanta to live with my grandmother, but that was before the government shut off all the roadways, waterways, and bridges. Tonight we are escaping the Germantown guards and heading toward the Memphis Airport to find some security.

That night, we made our way through the dark, empty parking lot and into the raft. We had been floating for about an hour when suddenly we heard a single gunshot fired and our raft began to sink. They were on to us. We were about half a mile away from the airport. Thirty seconds ago my dad and I had been casually talking and now I have no idea where he went. My mom, sisters and I jumped off the raft, abandoning our bags, and began swimming through the floods. Suddenly something grabbed my foot and yanked me under the murky waters. This person grabbed my hand and pulled me forward; I couldn’t resist his strength, so I let myself be dragged through the water with him. Finally, when we both came up for air, I saw that it had been my dad, and we both began swimming as fast as we could toward the airport. When finally we got to the empty airport, we met up with my sisters and mom and hid inside the belt of the baggage claim until it was safe to come out. We’ve been in the airport for about a month, and each night I wonder and dream about where these floods will take us next.