Living in a Shield World
Dried Peach

DRIED PEACH

Everyone gathered in the middle of the room. Rooms were opened, all windows up and side shut. They gathered in the middle of the fireplace. The rooms were left open. In it sleeps little children and their mothers. Jayana sleeps in an open-air bedroom alone. He fell asleep immediately. His body is weak

This mess, made many of us shaken. We don't want to part with each other. Seeing the many people gathered was also a medicine in itself.

Andy hasn't slept yethe just leans by my side on the sofa that seems to be occupied so often. Edward fell asleep on my thigh with a pillow

Andy dimmed the buffer lights. He kept staring at Jayana's room. He can't say much. Only incredible relief was seen on the look on his face.

Everyone is tired tonight. All are in a resting position by being able to see each other. Many mattresses in the lower palace.Nothing uncomfortable.

"I'm hungry, are you hungry?"

"I'm hungry!"

"My son hasn't eaten anything just water from yesterday"

Those who gathered together put to each other's words, said hungry

Andy who is currently sitting on his couch, leaning back, immediately stood up and gave more electrical energy to the electric baton in the middle of the room.

"Meridian, cook for us"

Andy's friend who did not talk much, he immediately stood up and went to a room.

There's a fat mother from the mother's family, following the Meridian."Hey kid, you want to cook?"

Meridian nodded

"I help"

Then there were a few more people standing. They consciously chose to help the Meridian, perhaps to quickly become its cuisine

An hour and a half later. The big portion of the food comes. There's no buffet. Everyone's got their share on the plate.

"Sorry everyone, only this can be cooked quickly, because all the food reserves are frozen. We haven't been here in two months"

The meridian says that, with the body bent very low.

The food is just sausage and boiled corn. Nice and fast.

"You eat Andy!", Meridian approaches Andy. We brought the same menu for the king

"Sorry it's nothing special to you, it can only be this"

"Given the Meridians, this is more than enough, we can all eat"

"I've got some fish for breakfast tomorrow, but...."

"I know, there's no more food"

"We have to take it outside"

They both talked seriously. Andy let everyone near him listen to the conversation.

"Maybe when we go out to get food supplies, we can meet a lot of people who have not been displaced"

"Very likely"

John and Hans are joining us. Only Wei Long seemed to be engrossed in talking with the family group who gathered to enjoy corn and sausages

"You're gonna bring everything we meet down here?"

"I don't think hiding is a good idea"

"We must have a building that we can use to gather crowds"

"Build?"

"it was very visible, had to be given a shield so as not to be attacked"

"Look around, who can make a strong shield for a building?!"

They were silent while chewing food

"John, aren't you strong enough?"

"There should be ten more people like me, only able to make a building shield"

"I can help", Andy who had been silent just now spoke up

"Maybe I can help you too!", Edward followed

"How my wife, you can help" asked Andy while staring fixedly at me

"Of course, I'll help"

"Military buildings are most suitable, just collect food supplies. There is also a dormitory. The building is big, it's huge!"

"Have anyone ever checked into that building?"

Andy, now ask Hans and Meridian? They both shake their heads

All was quiet, no one answered

"All right, thank you"

"It looks like we'll have to observe the military building tomorrow"

The one sitting around Andy nodded. Assured Andy's orders

"Meridian you stay here with Edward, you have to cook for them"

"Edward....?", Meridian seems hesitant to be with Edward

"Be calm, Meridian, Edward is not the one you have to keep an eye on all the time. He's very independent. He even flew alone from the isolated island above and managed to find me"

Meridian's eyes immediately sparkled hearing Andy's explanation.

"Andy, um,....Jayana?", Meridian reminds Andy

"She just needs rest and soft food. A lot of people here, I'm gonna have one of them pay attention to Jayana"

After everything is finished eating, and the kitchen is finished. We prepare to go back to sleep

**********

It's morning, the coin in my hand shows it's six in the morning. I heard the noise of the crowd in the kitchen. Meridians are gone, she must have cooked in the kitchen, with the people who helped her last night

My shoulder was sore and stiff, Edward's head was already very heavy. I moved her head next to her, she had a pillow but still wanted to sleep on my thighs

My head and body were leaning on Andy's side. The aroma of his body was not too fragrant as it used to be when he first met in the course. It could be because he was once seriously ill, or because of something else

I see his line of face, still as handsome as ever. But there was already a frown at the end of his eyes and his forehead. From a distance it may be invisible. But from this close distance, it was very visible

"Hannah.", she muttered softly calling my name, but her eyes closed. It seems like a nightmare

Even when I was by his side, he still dreamed of me. Then his eyes slowly opened. I smiled and looked at him at a very close distance

He kissed my forehead, then hugged me. "I've always wanted to wake up and see you by my side" Andy whispered

"I miss you too", I don't know why I said that to Andy. Behind my concern over his decision to my life and the children I don't understand. In my heart, I still want it

"You know Andy, maybe everyone here can see us?!" lirih

He took his eyes off me, "Maybe the Meridians have something we can eat for breakfast"

"You hungry?"

"No, I want to go to the military building now"

"I looked into the kitchen"

"I'm going to the bathroom first", Andy replied

I walked down the hallway to the kitchen. The sound of his voice made me arrive quickly

"Meridian you got food ready now, Andy wants breakfast now. He wants to hurry to the military building"

"Everything's still half frozen, they helped me melt it"

"How are the corn and sausages left?"

"Ease of all"

"Andy likes to eat dried peach fruit", Meridian points to the jar being in the corner. Dried peach from the barn house?

I walked up to get that jar. Then get out of the kitchen. On the way, I thought of Andy who missed me so much. He takes care of all my clothes, keeps the barn house tidy. He even dried these peach fruits. Maybe Andy's personality is not the same now and then. So is my personality

But I realize we've both grown into very different personalities, and still miss each other

Andy had washed his face, walking cautiously towards the sofa I was sitting on

"There are still many who are asleep" he whispered softly

"What food did you bring?"

"Only this", I lifted a jar of peach fruit

He was a bit dumbfounded, "You know Hannah, before you came to be Merryl, I've taken peaches to dry"

"But when me and the kids came the garden was like a forest"

"Ha ha ha", I dare not approach the garden, not yet dare"

"But the house and it's in it I'm cleaning"

"Who are you helping?"

"Alone", the answer that made me unable to ask anything more. He took the peach fruit and took care of the warehouse house to dispel the grief. Of course he doesn't want to be with anyone

It seems that my life is happier, because I have Edward and Rossy

We ate dried peach fruit without saying much more. Ever had the experience of losing each other, making my life and Andy's life filled with sadness, making peach breakfast full of contemplation