Once everyone finished saying their first name, and saying whatever they wanted to say about themselves a hush settled in. It wasn't a welcomed hush either, but what more could realistically be said about their situation. There was still a tension within the group that Michael could feel, so much so that he could almost reach out and touch it. The tension was born of questions. Questions like: Can I trust the person next to me realistically? What happens when we run out of food? Why did this happen? Did it happen elsewhere in the world? When people starter to reveal their true colors were they gonna be like the clown who was in the tent? If that was the case things were gonna get ugly real fast.
The biggest question hanging over the group though was; what about tomorrow? A lot of questions and not any answers to go on either.
Michael let out an exhale and said, "Earlier I crossed myself as I said a prayer if that upset or offended anyone I'm sorry. I'm a practicing Roman Catholic, and I realize not everyone here is R-C or even believes in God." Michael nodded and said, "Fair enough. I will not force my religious or personal beliefs on anyone else. I will respect your point of view as long as you understand mine."
Michael stretched his legs out and crossed his feet and said, "I realize that we all come from different parts of the town, and from different places in life. Right now though we can either stand together and do what we can to survive, or we might as well march right back into town and wait to die. It's that simple we are all that each other has. We've lost family and friends and i will miss my family for the rest of my life, but my family would want me to do whatever it took to survive. This group is everything to our survival, and I will do whatever I can to help this group survive."
Michael looked around and said, "Sorry if I shot my mouth off a little too much, but this group it's all I've got left and I'm not ashamed to say it I'm more than a little worried about what tomorrow and the day after looks like. All that being said just because I'm afraid doesn't mean I'm not gonna act." Michael rolled his eyes and said, "Okay I'll shut up now, and I know most of you are thinking 'finally.'"
Michael stood up put another log on the fire and sat back down. He looked into the fire and thought about all those times he would see a fire in the fireplace at home. Seeing the fire going on Christmas morning was one of his sweetest memories. Michael smiled as he remembered the first Christmas Eric came home from college. Seeing him standing by the fire place and smiling as Michael came down the stairs made Michael's Christmas. Now fire would serve to remind him of what was lost to Michael and that it was time to move on.
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