morriss003
@morriss003.bsky.social
Old man, writer, traveler, married, two adult children, living on a small farm on the island of Maui.
Petal nodded, unable to speak around the lump clogging her throat.
“I love you. God be with you, Petal.”
“I love you, too. God be with you, Susanna.”
“Go now.”
#douglaslives
“I love you. God be with you, Petal.”
“I love you, too. God be with you, Susanna.”
“Go now.”
#douglaslives
November 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Petal nodded, unable to speak around the lump clogging her throat.
“I love you. God be with you, Petal.”
“I love you, too. God be with you, Susanna.”
“Go now.”
#douglaslives
“I love you. God be with you, Petal.”
“I love you, too. God be with you, Susanna.”
“Go now.”
#douglaslives
"But don’t sing on the way, and don’t speak loudly. Take my bag and your sleeping bag. The gun is in my bag, but don’t take it out unless you meet someone, and remember, the people at Eagle’s Retreat are friends. Don’t shoot them.” #douglaslives
November 21, 2025 at 12:34 PM
"But don’t sing on the way, and don’t speak loudly. Take my bag and your sleeping bag. The gun is in my bag, but don’t take it out unless you meet someone, and remember, the people at Eagle’s Retreat are friends. Don’t shoot them.” #douglaslives
“I love you, too. You’re almost like my mom.”
The tears wanted to fall faster, but Susanna stood and brushed them aside.
“Don’t forget what Douglas taught us. As soon as the sun touches the mountains you stop, gather firewood, and build a fire. But don’t sing on the way." #douglaslives #newadult
The tears wanted to fall faster, but Susanna stood and brushed them aside.
“Don’t forget what Douglas taught us. As soon as the sun touches the mountains you stop, gather firewood, and build a fire. But don’t sing on the way." #douglaslives #newadult
November 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
“I love you, too. You’re almost like my mom.”
The tears wanted to fall faster, but Susanna stood and brushed them aside.
“Don’t forget what Douglas taught us. As soon as the sun touches the mountains you stop, gather firewood, and build a fire. But don’t sing on the way." #douglaslives #newadult
The tears wanted to fall faster, but Susanna stood and brushed them aside.
“Don’t forget what Douglas taught us. As soon as the sun touches the mountains you stop, gather firewood, and build a fire. But don’t sing on the way." #douglaslives #newadult
Petal lifted her eyes to meet Susanna’s, and she answered in her high-pitched voice, “Yes. I can do it. I’ll go tell them. You help Douglas.”
Tears sprang to Susanna’s eyes. She knelt and hugged Petal. “I love you,” she said, her voice breaking. “You’ve made my life so much better.”
#douglaslives
Tears sprang to Susanna’s eyes. She knelt and hugged Petal. “I love you,” she said, her voice breaking. “You’ve made my life so much better.”
#douglaslives
November 21, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Petal lifted her eyes to meet Susanna’s, and she answered in her high-pitched voice, “Yes. I can do it. I’ll go tell them. You help Douglas.”
Tears sprang to Susanna’s eyes. She knelt and hugged Petal. “I love you,” she said, her voice breaking. “You’ve made my life so much better.”
#douglaslives
Tears sprang to Susanna’s eyes. She knelt and hugged Petal. “I love you,” she said, her voice breaking. “You’ve made my life so much better.”
#douglaslives
Susanna shook her head. “One of us has to tell the people at Eagle’s Retreat about Douglas. He says they will help, and I believe him.”
“I have to tell them? By myself?” Petal stared into the distance where the dry creek faded into the forest.
“Can you?”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“I have to tell them? By myself?” Petal stared into the distance where the dry creek faded into the forest.
“Can you?”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
November 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Susanna shook her head. “One of us has to tell the people at Eagle’s Retreat about Douglas. He says they will help, and I believe him.”
“I have to tell them? By myself?” Petal stared into the distance where the dry creek faded into the forest.
“Can you?”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“I have to tell them? By myself?” Petal stared into the distance where the dry creek faded into the forest.
“Can you?”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
Petal was only eleven, but she was not stupid. She knew that Douglas was trying to protect Susanna and her, but she had lived with him long enough to have frank opinions about his ability to cope, since he was missing one foot.
“We could both go back.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“We could both go back.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
November 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Petal was only eleven, but she was not stupid. She knew that Douglas was trying to protect Susanna and her, but she had lived with him long enough to have frank opinions about his ability to cope, since he was missing one foot.
“We could both go back.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“We could both go back.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“Douglas said that we could reach Eagle’s Retreat tomorrow evening or the next morning. Could you make it there alone?”
“I don’t know.” The tenor of Petal’s voice dropped. “Where would you be?”
“With Douglas. Trying to help him when those men come.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“I don’t know.” The tenor of Petal’s voice dropped. “Where would you be?”
“With Douglas. Trying to help him when those men come.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
“Douglas said that we could reach Eagle’s Retreat tomorrow evening or the next morning. Could you make it there alone?”
“I don’t know.” The tenor of Petal’s voice dropped. “Where would you be?”
“With Douglas. Trying to help him when those men come.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“I don’t know.” The tenor of Petal’s voice dropped. “Where would you be?”
“With Douglas. Trying to help him when those men come.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“Petal?”
“Yes?”
“You’ve learned a lot from Douglas, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I can make snares, and I know which plants are poisonous and which ones we can eat.”
“Do you think you could be alone, by yourself, for today and tomorrow?”
“By myself?” Petal’s scrunched face showed her confusion. #newadult
“Yes?”
“You’ve learned a lot from Douglas, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I can make snares, and I know which plants are poisonous and which ones we can eat.”
“Do you think you could be alone, by yourself, for today and tomorrow?”
“By myself?” Petal’s scrunched face showed her confusion. #newadult
November 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
“Petal?”
“Yes?”
“You’ve learned a lot from Douglas, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I can make snares, and I know which plants are poisonous and which ones we can eat.”
“Do you think you could be alone, by yourself, for today and tomorrow?”
“By myself?” Petal’s scrunched face showed her confusion. #newadult
“Yes?”
“You’ve learned a lot from Douglas, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I can make snares, and I know which plants are poisonous and which ones we can eat.”
“Do you think you could be alone, by yourself, for today and tomorrow?”
“By myself?” Petal’s scrunched face showed her confusion. #newadult
Susanna and Petal hiked for an hour before stopping. Petal’s anxiety was obvious in the way she kept asking Susanna if Douglas was going to be alright. Susanna’s anxiety was rising, too, and she glanced back more than a few times, trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing.
November 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Susanna and Petal hiked for an hour before stopping. Petal’s anxiety was obvious in the way she kept asking Susanna if Douglas was going to be alright. Susanna’s anxiety was rising, too, and she glanced back more than a few times, trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing.
“Heavenly Father, please protect this man. Watch over him and bring him to me, in your son’s name.”
“Please, don’t expect me to say ‘amen’.”
Another chuckle escaped. “No.”
“Get going, babe.”
“I’m going.”
#douglaslives
“Please, don’t expect me to say ‘amen’.”
Another chuckle escaped. “No.”
“Get going, babe.”
“I’m going.”
#douglaslives
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
“Heavenly Father, please protect this man. Watch over him and bring him to me, in your son’s name.”
“Please, don’t expect me to say ‘amen’.”
Another chuckle escaped. “No.”
“Get going, babe.”
“I’m going.”
#douglaslives
“Please, don’t expect me to say ‘amen’.”
Another chuckle escaped. “No.”
“Get going, babe.”
“I’m going.”
#douglaslives
"Take my spear. If she has to fire the pistol, it means we’re dead.”
“I’m scared for Petal, and I’m scared for myself, but right now I’m mostly scared for you.”
“It’s not the happiest day of my life.”
She emitted an involuntary chuckle, and then she asked, “May I say a prayer?”
“Sure.”
#douglaslives
“I’m scared for Petal, and I’m scared for myself, but right now I’m mostly scared for you.”
“It’s not the happiest day of my life.”
She emitted an involuntary chuckle, and then she asked, “May I say a prayer?”
“Sure.”
#douglaslives
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
"Take my spear. If she has to fire the pistol, it means we’re dead.”
“I’m scared for Petal, and I’m scared for myself, but right now I’m mostly scared for you.”
“It’s not the happiest day of my life.”
She emitted an involuntary chuckle, and then she asked, “May I say a prayer?”
“Sure.”
#douglaslives
“I’m scared for Petal, and I’m scared for myself, but right now I’m mostly scared for you.”
“It’s not the happiest day of my life.”
She emitted an involuntary chuckle, and then she asked, “May I say a prayer?”
“Sure.”
#douglaslives
She threw Douglas one last sad look and marched away.
Susanna flung herself into his arms. For a minute they gripped each other, and then she said, “You gave her the gun, because you know that I’ll be the next one to stand in their way.”
“Yes." #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
Susanna flung herself into his arms. For a minute they gripped each other, and then she said, “You gave her the gun, because you know that I’ll be the next one to stand in their way.”
“Yes." #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
She threw Douglas one last sad look and marched away.
Susanna flung herself into his arms. For a minute they gripped each other, and then she said, “You gave her the gun, because you know that I’ll be the next one to stand in their way.”
“Yes." #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
Susanna flung herself into his arms. For a minute they gripped each other, and then she said, “You gave her the gun, because you know that I’ll be the next one to stand in their way.”
“Yes." #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“Okay,” she replied firmly swiping at her eyes. “Good-bye.”
Emotions surged through him. He knelt and wrapped her in his arms. They clung to each other in silence.
“Petal, I need to be alone with Douglas for a minute.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
Emotions surged through him. He knelt and wrapped her in his arms. They clung to each other in silence.
“Petal, I need to be alone with Douglas for a minute.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
November 21, 2025 at 8:59 AM
“Okay,” she replied firmly swiping at her eyes. “Good-bye.”
Emotions surged through him. He knelt and wrapped her in his arms. They clung to each other in silence.
“Petal, I need to be alone with Douglas for a minute.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
Emotions surged through him. He knelt and wrapped her in his arms. They clung to each other in silence.
“Petal, I need to be alone with Douglas for a minute.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“What?”
“Never mind. Here.” He handed her the Walthers. “Remember what I said. If you believe it’s a bad person, point at their middle and squeeze the trigger.” When her eyes teared, he said sharply. “No crying. We have to do this quickly. It’s my only chance.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse
“Never mind. Here.” He handed her the Walthers. “Remember what I said. If you believe it’s a bad person, point at their middle and squeeze the trigger.” When her eyes teared, he said sharply. “No crying. We have to do this quickly. It’s my only chance.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse
November 21, 2025 at 8:58 AM
“What?”
“Never mind. Here.” He handed her the Walthers. “Remember what I said. If you believe it’s a bad person, point at their middle and squeeze the trigger.” When her eyes teared, he said sharply. “No crying. We have to do this quickly. It’s my only chance.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse
“Never mind. Here.” He handed her the Walthers. “Remember what I said. If you believe it’s a bad person, point at their middle and squeeze the trigger.” When her eyes teared, he said sharply. “No crying. We have to do this quickly. It’s my only chance.” #douglaslives #postapocalypse
"When they reach me, they’ll realize that it will take them half a day to backtrack to where they can get above me. They might do that, and if they do, I’ll hike toward you. That means the people I know at Eagle’s Retreat will be that much closer to rescuing me. See, Obi-Wan? You are my last hope.”
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 PM
"When they reach me, they’ll realize that it will take them half a day to backtrack to where they can get above me. They might do that, and if they do, I’ll hike toward you. That means the people I know at Eagle’s Retreat will be that much closer to rescuing me. See, Obi-Wan? You are my last hope.”
“Douglas...All right.”
“Dump everything, except for what you absolutely need for two days. Take the tarp and leave me the blankets. Run or jog when you can.”
“Is this where you’re gonna fight them?”
“This is the best place, Petal." #douglaslives
“Dump everything, except for what you absolutely need for two days. Take the tarp and leave me the blankets. Run or jog when you can.”
“Is this where you’re gonna fight them?”
“This is the best place, Petal." #douglaslives
November 20, 2025 at 10:24 PM
“Douglas...All right.”
“Dump everything, except for what you absolutely need for two days. Take the tarp and leave me the blankets. Run or jog when you can.”
“Is this where you’re gonna fight them?”
“This is the best place, Petal." #douglaslives
“Dump everything, except for what you absolutely need for two days. Take the tarp and leave me the blankets. Run or jog when you can.”
“Is this where you’re gonna fight them?”
“This is the best place, Petal." #douglaslives
"The roof holds a bunch of solar panels. Find the people there, and tell them that Douglas sent you. If they ask for proof, tell them the password is ‘Petersburg.’ And if you should meet people on the way, yell ‘Peters.’ If they respond with “burg’ then they are the good guys.” #douglaslives
November 20, 2025 at 10:23 PM
"The roof holds a bunch of solar panels. Find the people there, and tell them that Douglas sent you. If they ask for proof, tell them the password is ‘Petersburg.’ And if you should meet people on the way, yell ‘Peters.’ If they respond with “burg’ then they are the good guys.” #douglaslives
“Right. And this is where we leave each other. Susanna, you and Petal will follow this creek. In a couple of days, you’ll leave the forest and see a grassy hill on your left. Head toward the top. There’s a flat spot about halfway up. From there you’ll see a tall building with a grey slate roof."
November 20, 2025 at 10:22 PM
“Right. And this is where we leave each other. Susanna, you and Petal will follow this creek. In a couple of days, you’ll leave the forest and see a grassy hill on your left. Head toward the top. There’s a flat spot about halfway up. From there you’ll see a tall building with a grey slate roof."
“This is it. I’ve been here before. I scouted this route.”
“When you lived in Peterburg?”
“Right. And this is where we leave each other. Susanna, you and Petal will follow this creek. In a couple of days, you’ll leave the forest and see a grassy hill on your left." #douglaslives #postapocalypse
“When you lived in Peterburg?”
“Right. And this is where we leave each other. Susanna, you and Petal will follow this creek. In a couple of days, you’ll leave the forest and see a grassy hill on your left." #douglaslives #postapocalypse
November 20, 2025 at 10:21 PM
“This is it. I’ve been here before. I scouted this route.”
“When you lived in Peterburg?”
“Right. And this is where we leave each other. Susanna, you and Petal will follow this creek. In a couple of days, you’ll leave the forest and see a grassy hill on your left." #douglaslives #postapocalypse
“When you lived in Peterburg?”
“Right. And this is where we leave each other. Susanna, you and Petal will follow this creek. In a couple of days, you’ll leave the forest and see a grassy hill on your left." #douglaslives #postapocalypse
They crossed a hump of land, and as they hiked down the western side their path became a dry creek in a wide ravine. They followed it, until it passed into a narrow gully with sides of granite that were almost vertical. At the gully’s end, in an area of mixed boulders, brush, and trees he stopped.
November 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
They crossed a hump of land, and as they hiked down the western side their path became a dry creek in a wide ravine. They followed it, until it passed into a narrow gully with sides of granite that were almost vertical. At the gully’s end, in an area of mixed boulders, brush, and trees he stopped.
As the days lengthened, the twilight lasted longer. They hiked almost three hours before stopping.
“How much time do we have?” Susanna asked.
“Tomorrow, or the next morning.”
Before dawn Douglas led them west, away from the river. #douglaslives
“How much time do we have?” Susanna asked.
“Tomorrow, or the next morning.”
Before dawn Douglas led them west, away from the river. #douglaslives
November 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
As the days lengthened, the twilight lasted longer. They hiked almost three hours before stopping.
“How much time do we have?” Susanna asked.
“Tomorrow, or the next morning.”
Before dawn Douglas led them west, away from the river. #douglaslives
“How much time do we have?” Susanna asked.
“Tomorrow, or the next morning.”
Before dawn Douglas led them west, away from the river. #douglaslives
“You missed,” Petal exclaimed in dismay. “You hit the horse instead.”
“I didn’t miss.” His tone was cold, uncaring. “I picked a target I knew I could hit. Let’s get going.”
Minutes later they heard the blast of a rifle.
#douglaslives
“I didn’t miss.” His tone was cold, uncaring. “I picked a target I knew I could hit. Let’s get going.”
Minutes later they heard the blast of a rifle.
#douglaslives
November 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
“You missed,” Petal exclaimed in dismay. “You hit the horse instead.”
“I didn’t miss.” His tone was cold, uncaring. “I picked a target I knew I could hit. Let’s get going.”
Minutes later they heard the blast of a rifle.
#douglaslives
“I didn’t miss.” His tone was cold, uncaring. “I picked a target I knew I could hit. Let’s get going.”
Minutes later they heard the blast of a rifle.
#douglaslives
As they rested on a log at dusk a lone horseman appeared on its western slope, only three hundred yards away.
“Looking for us,” Douglas muttered as he slipped the rifle from his shoulder.
He took aim and fired. The horse staggered and fell, but the man jumped clear.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
“Looking for us,” Douglas muttered as he slipped the rifle from his shoulder.
He took aim and fired. The horse staggered and fell, but the man jumped clear.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
November 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
As they rested on a log at dusk a lone horseman appeared on its western slope, only three hundred yards away.
“Looking for us,” Douglas muttered as he slipped the rifle from his shoulder.
He took aim and fired. The horse staggered and fell, but the man jumped clear.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
“Looking for us,” Douglas muttered as he slipped the rifle from his shoulder.
He took aim and fired. The horse staggered and fell, but the man jumped clear.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
The wetlands drained into a stream that became a river running southwest the next day. They followed the river, not stopping to catch the numerous golden trout leaping to catch bugs. A smaller hill rose to their left. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
November 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The wetlands drained into a stream that became a river running southwest the next day. They followed the river, not stopping to catch the numerous golden trout leaping to catch bugs. A smaller hill rose to their left. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“Yep, that’s the guys looking for us.”
“Are they hunting?”
“Maybe, but it’s more likely that someone found our trail and has alerted the others.”
“This will be easy ground for horses.”
“Yes. It won’t be long now. We’re close to Eagle’s Retreat, so we might beat them. But no more campfires.”
#romance
“Are they hunting?”
“Maybe, but it’s more likely that someone found our trail and has alerted the others.”
“This will be easy ground for horses.”
“Yes. It won’t be long now. We’re close to Eagle’s Retreat, so we might beat them. But no more campfires.”
#romance
November 20, 2025 at 3:40 AM
“Yep, that’s the guys looking for us.”
“Are they hunting?”
“Maybe, but it’s more likely that someone found our trail and has alerted the others.”
“This will be easy ground for horses.”
“Yes. It won’t be long now. We’re close to Eagle’s Retreat, so we might beat them. But no more campfires.”
#romance
“Are they hunting?”
“Maybe, but it’s more likely that someone found our trail and has alerted the others.”
“This will be easy ground for horses.”
“Yes. It won’t be long now. We’re close to Eagle’s Retreat, so we might beat them. But no more campfires.”
#romance