A seven-year-old girl named Natalie wanders a dying and nearly deserted world with her older brother after an unknown disaster has decimated the planet. She has a minimal understanding of what has befallen them as her brother shields her from a true understanding of the constant dangers they face. But when they encounter a stranger on the road who wants to trade some of his food for Natalie, it may be time for her to learn about killing to survive. (about 4,500 words, 20 mins to read)
First published in Bards and Sages Quarterly, January 2021