I know, I think too far ahead. She makes me feel so certain we can achieve anything. A waft from the smell from outside leaves me nearly gagging again.


"Maybe we should move him." I say.


"You mean before calling it a night?" She asks.


"Yeah, Mia I ain't used to this kind of living yet." I admit.


"Understandable." She says.


We both get up to walk out of the tent. Handling the body makes me want to crawl out of my skin and into somewhere much more comfortable. Mia seems to be unaffected by it as we carry the body away from the tent.


Mia goes back towards our tent. I can't help but feel bad for leaving them out in the desert this way. I start piling the sand around the body over it. I can hear Mia stop at the tent entrance with the entrance stopping its rustling as she watches me.


"That's... a new one." Mia says.


"My family told me this was a Old World practice. To give the dead respect." I admit.


I can hear Mia stifle a giggle as she comes back to help me finish burying the body within the sands. She seems as though this part is more uncomfortable than myself handling the body earlier. I sigh.


"You don't have to help. It's just something I was taught." I say.


"You're learning my stuff... least I can do is try to learn yours... right Etha?" She asks me.


"I guess you have a point there. This doesn't have to be one though." I say as I pile an armful onto the now forming dune of sands.


"It's okay Etha." She reassures me.


"Thanks Mia."


I am grateful for her attempt to bring me comfort. I still try my best to keep my mind busy while we finish burying the attacker. I can't help but wonder if they had anyone at all who knew them. the idea I have to quickly remove from my thoughts before I start tearing up.


"You never had to deal with this kind of stuff before Etha, it's alright to feel off." She tries to keep me reassured.


As we finish covering the body Mia sighs and starts to walk to the tent. I can't blame her, it's been a long day and a strange evening to say the least.


I follow her to the tent and we both strip and kill the lights. I lay in bed and feel her warmth curling up against my body. I suppose we are beyond separate beds now.


It seems like our relationship is rapidly escalating as we face more of the dangers out here. the Old World cursed our land and we here still live on, even amidst the chaos. I take a deep breath and feel my muscles slowly melting away.


"Hey Mia...." I speak groggily.


"Yeah Etha?"


"We are together, aren't we?" I can't help but ask.


"Wha- yeah, of course." Mia replies quickly with shock in her voice.


"Good. I'm on the same page." I admit.


I can feel her settle back down as she relaxed again. I never meant to surprise her like that. I never thought I'd see her acting as though she was nervous. The idea seems foreign to me.


"You never were with anyone either huh?" She asks me.


"No. Hard to want a life when life is only survival." I admit. "Although I know with you everything seems better." I add.


She sighs in the darkness of the tent. Moments like this make me feel as though I and her are undeniably solid as a pair. We are always there for each other and cover each others back.


"Well just look at what we pulled off for new Boston. We are good together Etha." Her body shifts with her silent tired laughter.


The world seems to be at peace once again. I can't seem to drift off even in this perfectly comfortable arrangement. the bed is warm compared to the chilled desert air. I can feel every breath Mia draws in.


Laying with her in my arms I never would have suspected we would both be so comfortable. The quiet air is almost too eerie to bare. I simply wait now, my imagination wondering if that the sands dancing along the winds forces to be large snakes. I shake it off my train of thought as I know the only thing we have seen like that was the giant wyrm.


I try to get the thought from my head. I can't help but feel restless and only hope I will fall asleep. I can't tell how much time has passed but it seems as if time is nearly frozen. I take the moments as they pass by awaiting to fall asleep. The tent smells or blueberry and roses, much like her hair.


I feel her pull herself tight against me as she groans in her sleep. I can't help but have this burning sense of pride welling from deep within. I try not to let this keep me awake, though my attempts of sleep seem to be pointless. The feeling of excitement is nearly too much to bear as I try to contain myself.


I sigh deeply, laying with my eyes still shut. I can only come to find joy fill me. It's frustrating to try to be tired when I feel awake and aware of all the things racing through my emotions and thoughts. I Wonder if she perhaps had this dilemma the first night she laid beside me. My thoughts of life bring me to the idea of her being my wife as we try to settle in this crazy wasteland.


I sigh deeply once more. I still await for sleeps grasp to drag me into unconsciousness. Mia turns away from me in her sleep. I turn over and hug onto her. I feel myself relax with the scent of her hair filling my senses.


I feel the drowsiness begin to swirl around my head. the room wavers as I feel myself drifting into the sleep I have been wanting to get. With one deep breath left, I fade into my sleep.