Chapter 30

“The sky will explode soon,” he said, sitting Indian-style and looking from the sand to the sun. His words were crisp and clear. No longer was he autistic. He moved his gaze from the fiery sun to my eyes, and then he smiled, but only faintly. It didn’t seem as if he had suffered from the basic signs of autism. He appeared changed and enlightened with the world, and so very different, but only in a good way.

“We’re together. Nothing else matters.”

“We’re going to turn to ash. The solar flares will wipe out Earth’s entire population.”

“Doesn’t matter. We have here and now.”

“My brother’s not here. Where is he?”

“Coming. On his way. He said something about stopping to get us ice cream cones.”

“Chocolate or vanilla?”

“Chocolate, which is your favorite.”

“My brother loves me, and you do, too.”

“I do,” I replied, nodding.

“Is it the Rapture?” he asked. “Will only one hundred and forty-four thousand people survive the solar flare disaster?”