The earth was bone dry; there hadn't been any rain in over a month and the crops that still clung to life were showing signs that this may be the end. "Why would she?" Kevin answered as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Replacing his Redskin ball cap with the ripped visor and sun-bleached emblem, Dale could see the dirt that smeared over his best friend's red cheeks. Mid-day had passed several hours ago, yet the temperature continued to rise. A dry wind whistled across the land carrying with it sand that scratched at their throats as the two boys worked tirelessly in the community garden. "She has to notice someone, why else would she protect us from the darkness?" Dale continued as he grabbed a thin stem of thistle and tore it from the ground. Vegetables and fruits struggled to germinate in the dry, arid land, yet weeds grew no matter how much they worked the beds. "You believe that old wives tale don't you?" Kevin chuckled as he leaned against the long handle of his rake. "She's an angel protecting us from the demons that have destroyed this world.
