(FICTION) (Thanks to Carol Anne at http://therapybits.wordpress.com/ and Dan at  . http://nofacilities.wordpress.com/ for the idea for the story.)

Carol Anne took one last glance at the city walls and headed for home. The sky, heavy with snow clouds, weighed upon her shoulders as she trudged down the deserted highway. But nothing weighed more heavily on her mind than the ruined city. Pushing the button had been a last resort, inevitable in the end.

It took her an hour, three blisters, and two fingers numb with the cold to reach the dirt road that ended in the dark forest that surrounded her home. Fresh snow blanketed the ground where the trees were thinner, and she wondered if she’d find anything to eat in the cupboard.

Thank goodness the light is on, she thought as the cabin came into sight. Someone was home. She wasn’t the last person left on earth after all.

But they’d have to fight over whatever food was left in the cupboard, if there was anything at all. As a last resort, there was always the button.

(Carol Anne’s prompt was “Carol anne is the name, what if there was a big snow storm?” and Dan’s prompt was “I’ll pass on the name, but I’m picturing a dirt road ending in a dark forest.”)

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