‘The Great Plague is no more!!!’ Sia shrieked, as tears fell like crystals across her face.

The Plague had killed, destroyed, eliminated everything and everyone. Seeing a human was like finding a rare gem.

People nowadays complain about wearing a mask, but everyday a gas mask was glued to Sia’s face.

‘Am I really free…Mister?’ She softly asked.

‘No…look at your gas mask…’ I sternly say.

Sia froze in horror, and she clutched it tightly.

‘I can’t remove it…Sir’

‘Aren’t I breathing! Aren’t I alive! What more could you possible want’ I yell.

I shouldn’t have gotten angry, but she should get a grip on reality. She should be grateful for the chance of being able to escape from her world.

‘Sorry, but I don’t regret my anger!’ I reply.

I huff and puff, taking in as much air as possible, to show it was safe.

Sia looked nervous, but she watched through her mask. She almost looked enchanted—maybe it was the idea of being able to breathe like a normal human.

While, Sia watched in awe, I slowly moved closer and smiled at her. I then ripped the gas mask off her face.

She yelped and her face was frozen—in fear, confusion and betrayal.

Sia held her breathe in terror, as she angrily glared at me.

She held, and held and held, until her face was pale.

‘Just let it go….’ I calmly say, as I scratched my head.

How can one be so afraid of the air? Was the Plague really that bad?

Then again seeing this 10 year old, I fear the worst

***

The fresh air that Sia breathed in, was nostalgic yet surprisingly haunting. She couldn’t trust it. What if she brought the plague with her? What if this world has something worse than the plague?

Sia gently gazed up at me.

‘It’s delicious isn’t?’ I softly say, as the anger evaporated into bubbles of joy.

‘It’s…delicious…’ as she began sobbing.