Free Prepper's Sacrifice by John Lundin Page B

deserve?’
    ‘This is how much you deserve,’ Tim replied, forcing the cash into Stewart’s hand. ‘In fact, you deserve much much more than this. You know how many people are out there starving? How many people who won’t be able to eat tonight because they haven’t got a buddy like you who’s willing to do this for them? I’ll be forever grateful to you, to you both.’
    Anne’s eyes welled with tears and she threw her arms around both men and pulled them together for a group hug. ‘We’re all going to be just fine. Before we know it, this thing will blow over and when it does, you’ve got to come back and have dinner with us.’
    ‘I will,’ Tim promised. ‘Okay guys, as much as I’d love to stay here and be treated awesomely by you both, I’ve got to head back.’
    ‘I’ll follow you upstairs and get things locked up.’ Stewart said before making his way behind Tim up the stairs.
    Anne also joined the men upstairs. ‘Bye Tim. Be safe,’ she said as he disappeared through the window.
    Stewart, watched as Tim carefully made is way down the ladder, jumping from the last few steps and landing on his feet. Rather than just shutting out the world at this point, he kept his head out the window, taking in the fresh air and seeing that Tim made it to his car.
    ‘That was quick, ‘Anne said when Stewart finally pulled himself back inside.
    ‘Yeah, told you it wouldn’t have made sense to offer him something to eat. He really wanted to get going. It’s good to see that he’s taking everything seriously.'
    ‘Good but sad,’ Anne added. ‘I mean, to see someone who’s always so optimistic lose their spark really isn’t that heartwarming.'
    Stewart nodded. Though Anne wasn’t walking around the house pouting, it surely was different to see her get used to the idea of staying home all day, every day. He knew just how much she enjoyed going to work; how much she enjoyed chit-chatting with her friends and coworkers. Now the only person she had to talk to was Stewart. She could call her friends and have a nice round of conversation on the telephone. In fact, Stewart had encouraged her to do just that. However, after hearing one sad story after the other and having each conversation she had circled with talks of Ebola, Anne had told Stewart that she’d rather cut down on the phone calls. Stewart couldn’t recall the last time Anne had picked up the phone and contacted her friends. One night, he’d even thought about drop calling, Maria, the coworker Anne was the fond of. Maybe if he did that, Maria would call back and Anne would be happy to hear from her. Unfortunately, he knew that his wife was right and that the only thing anyone wanted to talk about these days was Ebola. There was no way around it. The virus was spreading like wildfire.
    For a minute, Stewart imagined what things would be like without Anne. He wondered how alone he’d feel if he’d kept to his lonesome all these years; if he’d never married. It wasn’t a thought that was too farfetched. Anne was like a miracle. She’d walked into his life when he least expected it. Though prior to her arrival, he’d pretty much had his eyes closed to women, she pried them open simply by being herself. However, if that one day, so long ago had been erased, he’d probably be scratching at the walls, wishing for someone to save him from himself. Luckily, he didn’t have to do that. Because of Anne, he didn’t feel as though he was in solitary confinement. He felt trapped, they both did, but at least they were trapped together.
    In college, he’d always laughed at the thought of being married. He found it to be pretentious, a waste of money. Now, he could clearly see how it made sense. Marriage made him happy. Being able to call Anne his own, forever and for always, made him feel whole.
    ‘Have I ever told you just how perfect you are?’ he turned to Anne, who was lounged out on the sofa and looked as though she was about to drift away into