Last Light

by Claire Kent

“I mean what I say. Men can’t make it now without women any more than women can make it without men. We need each other.” He clears his throat and avoids my eyes. “I need you. Like you need me.”

So I never expected to find this. Comfort at the end of the world. I close my eyes and fall asleep with Travis all around me.

I jerk in surprise when I hear Travis’s hoarse voice saying, “I get a bullet in the chest, and she decides to take a li’l nap.”

“Please, Layne. Please don’t say that. Please don’t ask it. Unless you really mean it. I mean really mean it. ’Cause I’m gonna take you serious. I’m gonna want more than just a good time with you. I’m gonna… never let go.” I try to wipe the tears from my cheek with my shoulder but don’t really succeed. “Travis, I’m asking for real. What if I want that old hillbilly?” His face changes. His eyes blaze. “If you want him… if you really want him… this old hillbilly is already yours.”