The End

OCTOBER 15, 2066

Olympia, Washington, Republic of Cascadia

“We have definitely covered a lot so far,” John said, looking at his pad. He had been taking diligent notes the entire time.

“I’d like to take a break, if you don’t mind?” Haley asked.

“Of course.”

“Can I get you and your people a cup of tea or coffee?” Haley asked as she stood up.

The two photographers declined her offer, but John asked for tea.

While Haley was preparing the tea in the kitchen, John walked around her house. He slowly took his time looking at the myriad of framed photographs she had hung along the wall in the hallway. As he examined each one to see if there was anyone of note in them, one caught his eye. It was a photo of Gordon dressed in an old camouflage uniform surrounded by others in similar dress. They were all holding up a worn “Doug” flag. The blue, white and green striped flag had the words, “1^st Idaho Infantry, Republic of Cascadia” hand sewn across the white field that stretched from one end to the other. The Douglas fir emblazoned in the center was faded and showed wear that can only come from war.

He pulled the photo off the wall and walked into the kitchen to get more information on it. The kitchen was empty. He walked into the adjacent room and there he found Haley holding what looked like a necklace.

His abrupt entry into the room startled her, causing her to drop the necklace.

John was curious about what she had, so he stepped forward and picked it up for her. He looked at it and saw that it was a silver compass attached to a silver chain.

“Here,” he said as he handed it to her.

“Thank you,” Haley responded. She took it quickly and placed it back in a small chest located on a bookshelf. She looked disturbed that John had touched it.

“May I ask what that was?” John asked.

“My brother gave it to me,” Haley said, not looking at him. She still had her hand on the chest.

“I didn’t know you had a brother until you mentioned him today,” John stated looking confused.

Ignoring John’s comment, she asked, “So what do you want to discuss in our next session?”

Taking note that she deliberately didn’t comment about her brother, he said, “I want to talk about your time in Idaho.”

Haley turned around and faced him.

“Our years in Idaho were some of the best I can remember. Even though the war started not long after the lights went out, I was inoculated from what was happening. We were safe in Idaho. Although the same cannot be said about the journey there, or as Daddy referred to it, ‘the long road.’ Something happened that changed us all.” Haley paused and looked back toward the necklace on the shelf. She reached over and touched it. She then looked back at John and said, “I would like to talk about that next.”