The sun beat down mercilessly on the cracked asphalt road as James trudged onward. He shifted his pack to his other shoulder, trying to ease the ache that had settled there over the last few days. Or had it been weeks? Time seemed to blur together when every day was the same endless walk under the relentless sun.

James squinted against the harsh light reflecting off the road ahead. It stretched on as far as he could see, shimmering in the heat. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen any signs of habitation. No buildings, no cars, no people. Just mile after mile of empty road winding through the barren landscape.

He supposed he should consider himself lucky. At least he was alive. That was more than he could say for most of the population these days. The Sickness had burned through the cities like wildfire, killing indiscriminately. James had been fortunate enough to be in a remote area when it hit. But that remoteness was now his prison – there were simply no people left alive out here. As far as he knew, he was the last man standing.

James tried not to dwell on that thought too much. The crushing loneliness was enough to drive a man mad. He focused instead on putting one foot in front of the other, making progress down the Mother Road. That’s what he called it in his head: the Mother Road. An homage to its old name, Route 66. Back before the world ended, this road had been a symbol of freedom and discovery. Winding from Chicago to Los Angeles, it beckoned travelers with the promise of adventure.

Now its broken pavement was simply a path of survival for James. He followed it because he had nowhere else to go. And because some small part of him still hoped there might be something to find out there. Some refuge, some community that had weathered the outbreak. But the farther he walked, the slimmer that hope became.

James was startled from his thoughts by a low growl. He froze, his eyes scanning the scrub brush lining the sides of the road. After a moment, a lone coyote slinked out from the undergrowth. It regarded James warily before turning and loping away into the distance.

James let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Since the outbreak, the animal population had exploded, reclaiming the land that people had abandoned. Encounters with aggressive packs weren’t uncommon, but this coyote seemed to have decided James wasn’t worth the trouble.

These run-ins only reinforced James’ conviction that he was utterly alone out here. If there were any survivors banding together, surely the animals would have learned to avoid people by now. This coyote still seemed unfamiliar with humans, further suggesting James was an anomaly – the last specimen roaming its habitat.

With a shake of his head, James continued on. He walked until the sun sank below the horizon, staining the sky brilliant shades of orange and pink. Finally he stopped and made camp in the skeleton of an old gas station. He ate a cold can of beans as he watched the colors fade to darkness.

Exhaustion finally overtook James and he curled up to sleep on the dirty floor. Rest did not come easy – it never did anymore – but eventually his weary body gave way. When he woke the next morning, it was to the now-familiar ache of loneliness.

The same routine followed: eat a can of food, take stock of supplies, start walking. This had been James’ life for weeks… or maybe months. Time held little meaning anymore. The road just went on and on, sometimes straight and smooth, other times winding through craggy hills. But always empty.

On this day, something finally changed. James was scrambling down a steep embankment, his boots kicking up plumes of dust, when he saw it – a crossing road. This was the first intersection he’d come across in forever. His heart leapt with excitement as he turned onto the new road. It headed off at an angle, cutting through a wide valley nestled between hills.

James picked up his pace, filled with new energy. This was promising. Where there were intersections and changes in direction, there was a greater chance of finding something. Anything.

He was so focused on the road ahead that the figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere. James screeched to a halt, his mind unable to process what he was seeing. There, farther up the road, stood a person.

James stared in disbelief, certain his tired mind was playing tricks on him. But the figure remained where it was. After a moment, it raised its hand in a tentative wave.

“Hello?” James called out, his voice cracking from lack of use.

“Hi there,” came the reply. The figure slowly walked closer. James saw it was a young woman, her clothes as ragged and dirt-stained as his own. Her brown hair hung in tangled clumps, but her eyes were bright with life.

James suddenly realized he hadn’t spoken to another living person in months. His throat constricted with emotion and words failed him.

The woman seemed to understand his speechlessness. She gave a gentle smile. “Don’t worry. I know how you feel. I’ve been alone out here too.”

James swallowed hard. “I thought I was the only one left. How…?”

“Just luck, I guess,” she replied with a shrug. “I’ve been following the roads, scavenging what I can. What’s your name?”

“James.” He still couldn’t wrap his mind around this encounter.

“Nice to meet you, James. I’m Nora.” She studied his dusty clothes and the pack on his back. “You look like you’ve been on the road awhile.”

James nodded, finding his voice again. “I have. Been walking for months, I think. I came from back east.”

“That’s incredible,” said Nora with admiration. “I’ve never met anyone else who survived out here that long.”

James managed a raspy laugh. “Well, it’s good to know I set a record.”

Nora grinned, then glanced around. “We should keep moving. No telling what’s around. Do you want to travel together for a while?”

James raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was such a simple offer, and yet it was the most meaningful thing he could imagine. To not be alone anymore. To have someone to talk to, a companion on this endless journey down the Mother Road.

“Yeah,” he said finally. “I’d like that. The road goes on, but maybe it won’t seem so long with some company.”

Nora nodded and fell into step beside him. The two set off down the cracked two-lane highway which stretched to the horizon. Neither knew what lay ahead. But for the first time in a long while, James felt a glimmer of hope.

Feature Photo by Pixabay