Epilogue
As Sarah curled up onto the couch next to Adam and took a sip of her hot cocoa, she watched the children and Becky lighting the delicate candles on top of the tree.
They had spent weeks making the decorations that now adorned the house and the property.
Everything was truly picturesque. Snow had started to fall days before, and without a weather forecast, she had no idea how long it would continue.
It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, though, and she knew the other adults felt the same.
The pristine, white landscape was untouched by machines and men for the most part.
They spent their afternoons tracking small winter game and keeping the houses warm while bonding and teaching the children everything the collective had knowledge about.
Over the months since the villagers and the mayor had attacked them, at least fifty had since set up trading routes with the homesteaders.
Sarah knew the homestead was a popular place for people to now come not only for trading and supplies but for medical insight as well.
Becky had been a huge asset to their group, right along with the rest of them.
Each one offered a different well of knowledge.
As the children started to open the homemade gifts that everyone had put together, there was a knock at the door.
Despite everything being calm, Sarah immediately tensed as she set down her mug and glanced at Adam.
He reached for his weapon as she moved toward the door.
Peeking out through the glass, Sarah gasped and quickly jerked it open.
The man looked more like an abominable snowman than a human, but she would have recognized his eyes anywhere as she quickly pulled him into the warmth of the house.
To her complete and utter disbelief, it was John.
Their long-lost friend had finally made it to them.
“What in the hell happened to you, John?” Sarah asked. “How’d you get here?”
“Well, it’s been a pain, but I helped some of the locals take back the prison,” John replied. “After they had it well fortified and protected, I left in search of the homestead you spoke so much about.”
“I’m glad you made it.”
“So am I. To be fair, you left an easy trail to follow if a person knew what to look for. You certainly made an impact along the way.”
“Well, you know me. I can’t believe you’re finally here. I’ve been hoping to make my way down there in the spring.”
“Now there’s no need to.” John smiled. “That reminds me, I brought you a present.”
John reached into his pack and pulled out a portable HAM radio. Turning it on, he handed it over to Sarah.
“Merry Christmas. The message should start again at any time. It started this morning, and it’s the first radio address to come out since this whole thing started.”
Moments later, the radio came to life, and they all quietly listened to what the president was saying.
“Merry Christmas to all the people across the United States. It may come as a surprise to many of you that we finally have some radio frequencies up and working. Well, I’m here to tell you that this is just the start of many good things to come.
While we are a nation that is going to take time to heal and repair ourselves, the new year will bring plenty more good news.
We will bring power back to this country, and we will rebuild.
I promise there is still a bright future for everyone.
I’ll follow this up with any updates I can until the day we are back to where we were before the solar storm.
This isn’t a country that surrenders to anything.
We will grow stronger, and we will persevere through these hard times.
Again, Merry Christmas. Through the next year, power will be restored to many of you.
Hold on and stand proud. We’re survivors. ”
Her heart felt like it was going to burst with joy as Adam held her close, and the tears started to fall.
They had to spread the good news to the villagers and everyone else as well.
The nation was healing. They were going to be whole again.
Finally, Sarah had gotten her happily ever after.
Even if it took the world coming to an end for it to happen.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story!