Free PRIME by Samantha Boyette Page A

lot of the older kids who never stood a minute on that wall. He knew what he was doing every day he stood watch. If you don’t go sit down you’re insulting his memory.”
    Simon nodded, still looking at the ground. “Walk with me?” When Tessa didn’t answer right away, Simon looked up at her.
    “I don’t know,” Tessa hedged.
    “Please,” Simon said, his voice breaking.
    Tessa sighed. “Okay.”
    Together they started down the aisle. Tessa wore a thin white dress and sandals. Simon thought she must be cold, but she shrugged away his jacket when he offered. The funeral procession moved slowly; no one wanted to get there too quickly. Even the youngest of the children was quiet and somber. They grasped the situation in a way Simon knew he wouldn’t have at their age, but that had been a different time.
    Rows of mismatched chairs sat along an aisle leading up to the body. Tech had built a base of sticks and dry grass to lay Noah’s body on. It was wrapped in a clean black sheet, which Tech had painstakingly sewn shut. More wood was piled over him. The whole thing had been doused in kerosene.
    Everyone took their seats quietly as the morning sun began to soak the area. Tessa and Simon followed Tyson and Red to the front. Zeke had also found suits for both of them. They looked proud, if a little uncomfortable, as they sat beside Simon and Tessa. Once everyone was settled, a boy a couple years older than Simon stepped forward. He wore slacks and a gray button-up shirt a size too big for him. His dark hair fell past his shoulders, but was pulled back neatly with a rubber band. He stood directly in front of the group. Dodge and Tech stood ready with torches on either side of him. True to his word, Matt and four of his buddies were keeping watch.
    “My name is Adam,” the boy began. “I know some of you, though not as many as I should.” He smiled and looked down at his hands. He held a Bible, its cover worn and stained. He ran a hand over it. “When I woke up all I could remember was this book.” Adam looked back up at the crowd and held the Bible up for all to see. “Not any details, only that it was the key to salvation. I know most of you don’t feel the same way, and I admit that my faith has been tested in these last weeks since our awakening.” Simon glanced back at the small crowd; they were all listening intently as Adam spoke.
    “Red and Tyson asked me to speak, because Noah and I had become close lately. He was afraid of many things, and I did my best to soothe his fears. If I believe anything these days, it’s not so much from this book, but from what I feel in my heart. God has chosen us. For whatever reason, he believed that we should live.” Simon looked down, eyes clouding as Adam spoke. Tessa reached over to squeeze Simon’s hand, holding tight for a second before letting go. Simon told himself he didn’t miss her touch. A cool breeze ran over the group, blowing loose strands of Adam’s long hair into his face. He didn’t pause to brush them aside.
    “I’m not going to try and tell you that we are a second coming, or any nonsense like that,” Adam continued, looking sincerely out at the crowd. “Only that we are alive. When many are dead, we are alive, and so we must fight to stay alive. But when one of us does fall, it is because God has called him back. Noah suffers no longer. Everyone please join hands for a moment of silence.” Adam bowed his head. Everyone else did the same.
    Simon sat, head bowed. He looked over at Tessa’s hand and reached to take it before he shut his eyes. He let himself fall into the silence of the morning. He could feel the sun starting to warm his back and the gentle breeze brushing over his face. More than anything, he felt Tessa’s warm hand in his own. For the first time he didn’t feel guilty for enjoying the feeling. He sat for a moment of peace, knowing it was Adam’s words which had led them to this quiet moment, far from the torment their lives