Senior year – it was finally here. The Fall Semester just started at the University of Georgia. 21-year-old Wade Alvarado was majoring in psychology, playing football, and enjoying life. For the last year of school, Wade was living in an off-campus apartment with his long-time girlfriend, Maggie Greene. From a young age, Wade had known Maggie. Their mothers were pregnant around the same time, so it was only natural that they grew up together, became childhood best friends, and stayed that way throughout their entire life. The pair started dating when they were teenagers and that relationship had endured all the way into adulthood, college.
When Wade was thirteen, his father, a police officer, was killed on-duty. His mother never quite recovered, falling into a spell of alcoholism until a couple years ago. She overcame her problem, got a degree in nursing, and started working at the hospital. Unfortunately, her job would lead to her untimely death. There was a ruthless string of an influenza virus that had attacked different locations of the country. Georgia was hit hard, and his mother supposedly passed away from being exposed, leaving Wade with no family in the area since his entire family originated from the West Coast. His mother and father moved to Georgia right before having him.
Now, it was just Maggie and Wade, living out their final year of college. However, today was the third day in a row that they had class canceled because of the outbreak. Everyone was supposed to stay inside. Wade woke in the morning, before Maggie did. He walked into the living room and turned the TV on. Then, he sauntered into the kitchen, intending to cook some breakfast in bed. As he popped a couple pieces of bread into the toaster, however, the television gained his attention.
It was a news broadcast, showing live footage of an injured man lying on a stretcher, seemingly dead, but suddenly pouncing up and taking a chunk out of someone’s neck. There was a state of emergency declared in almost every state now. Quarantines were being set up – it was dangerous out there. It was recommended that everyone seek some emergency shelter, military camp, or something similar. Things were getting quite disturbing and it was more serious than anyone thought. Wade was getting worried, the school now sending out alerts that campus was closed until further notice, that students should seek refuge somewhere safe until the outbreak is contained.
Leaving the toast for the moment, Wade walked towards the bedroom to greet Maggie, so she could see what was happening. Right now, he was wearing a simple t-shirt and shorts, having gotten slightly dressed after waking up. Sitting onto the edge of the bed, Wade placed his hand gently onto her shoulder, rubbing the skin softly. “Hey… babe… wake up…” He intended to wake her up with a happy breakfast in bed, but there was a more somber message he had to give in that moment.
When Wade was thirteen, his father, a police officer, was killed on-duty. His mother never quite recovered, falling into a spell of alcoholism until a couple years ago. She overcame her problem, got a degree in nursing, and started working at the hospital. Unfortunately, her job would lead to her untimely death. There was a ruthless string of an influenza virus that had attacked different locations of the country. Georgia was hit hard, and his mother supposedly passed away from being exposed, leaving Wade with no family in the area since his entire family originated from the West Coast. His mother and father moved to Georgia right before having him.
Now, it was just Maggie and Wade, living out their final year of college. However, today was the third day in a row that they had class canceled because of the outbreak. Everyone was supposed to stay inside. Wade woke in the morning, before Maggie did. He walked into the living room and turned the TV on. Then, he sauntered into the kitchen, intending to cook some breakfast in bed. As he popped a couple pieces of bread into the toaster, however, the television gained his attention.
It was a news broadcast, showing live footage of an injured man lying on a stretcher, seemingly dead, but suddenly pouncing up and taking a chunk out of someone’s neck. There was a state of emergency declared in almost every state now. Quarantines were being set up – it was dangerous out there. It was recommended that everyone seek some emergency shelter, military camp, or something similar. Things were getting quite disturbing and it was more serious than anyone thought. Wade was getting worried, the school now sending out alerts that campus was closed until further notice, that students should seek refuge somewhere safe until the outbreak is contained.
Leaving the toast for the moment, Wade walked towards the bedroom to greet Maggie, so she could see what was happening. Right now, he was wearing a simple t-shirt and shorts, having gotten slightly dressed after waking up. Sitting onto the edge of the bed, Wade placed his hand gently onto her shoulder, rubbing the skin softly. “Hey… babe… wake up…” He intended to wake her up with a happy breakfast in bed, but there was a more somber message he had to give in that moment.
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