Hey Diary,

  The “big” earthquake is tomorrow.

  Meaning the earthquake today, which made a tree explode, isn't “big”. The tree didn’t just break, or fall over. The trunk exploded. I’m glad no houses are still standing, because I don’t know what would have happened to them if trees are exploding.

  I'm very, very glad everyone knows tomorrow will be the biggest earthquake. I don't think people would survive mentally if we had another week of this.

  Sure, there will be smaller earthquakes after, but nothing like this week’s earthquakes. Those will be the ground settling, not the ground breaking.

  I can tell, just by focusing a little, that a lot of wild animals have died this week. From falling trees, from fear, from fighting with other animals… I don't know. All I know is, the severe overpopulation problem isn't nearly as severe any more.

  Which… is very sad.

  Even some sea animals are being affected, since the water is moving around so much. They’re being pulled in too many directions at once, and the water is moving too fast. A lot of animals have migrated out into the deep ocean, out of my range. That’s probably for the best.

  After tomorrow, it’ll all be over. That’s all I can say. All I can do is wait.

  Signing off,

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

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  Luke sat on top of a boulder, staring out at the ocean.

  The waves had been high and dangerous all week. There were riptides all over the place. It looked lovely, but he could feel the danger.

  Maeve sat down next to him, holding out half an orange.

  “Thanks,” he said absently, taking it without really looking at her.

  They sat together, watching the waves as the sun went down behind them. Luke was glad to be fairly far away from the water so he could enjoy the colors without being in any danger.

  Finally he finished the orange and smiled at Maeve, about to ask if she wanted him to take the peels. And stopped, feeling like an absolute asshole.

  She was crying.

  Not loudly, and she was obviously trying to act like she wasn't, but her breathing was ragged and tears were carving lines down her face.

  Luke set the orange peels down and pulled her in for a hug, cursing himself for not having noticed earlier. Maeve whimpered, her claws digging into his skin as she held on as tight as she could.

  “I don't want to be here tomorrow,” she whispered.

  “It’ll be ok,” he promised, not confident at all.

  She buried her face in his neck, shuddering. “I want to go home. Luke, I don't want to be here any more. Take me home.”

  He held her tighter. “I… can try yelling at Bonnie? Not sure how well that would work, though.”

  Maeve laughed, a little hysterically. “Just tell me it’ll all be ok.”

  Luke hesitated, then sighed. “It’ll all be ok.”

  “You’re terrible at lying.”

  “It won't be ok, but I don't care. I love you, Maeve; nothing else matters. I don't know what will happen tomorrow or the day after, but we’ll be together. Right?”

  “Right,” she muttered, then moved back to look him in the eye. Her hair was messy, her eyes had dark circles under them, her face had damp patches on it, and Luke thought she was still the most beautiful person to have ever existed. “Luke… I love you, too.”

  “I love you,” he repeated, pulling her in close again. “No matter what. I love you.”