Mark sat on the roof of his brother's apartment building, watching as tens of thousands of people filed out of the city by car, by bus, by bike and by foot. From this vantage point overlooking the river valley he could see people making the choice to go north, east and west, and if he got up and walked to the other side of the roof he could see another long line going south. Noises drifted up to him, sounds of panic and fear and anger, sometimes the odd fight breaking out among those almost directly below him, usually between a slow-moving motorist and a pedestrian or biker.
He heard the door to the roof open and close behind him, and leaned back in the lawn chair to see his brother Dave come walking across the gravel, backpack hanging loose over one shoulder. Dave dropped the pack on the roof beside Mark and sat on it, gazed out and watched the crowds for a moment, not saying anything.
"I wish you'd come with us," he finally said, looking up at the roiling storm clouds. Distant thunder crashed, and the wind occasionally gusted across the rooftop, loose gravel and garbage skittering over their feet.
Mark fished a smoke from his pocket, lit it during a brief lull. "To where?" He snorted after inhaling. "No fucking way we're going to escape this. I may as well hang, see if any of my friends are still around, enjoy the last few days."
"But Mom and Dad..."
"Fuck Mom and Dad. They kicked me out because they didn't want me around, didn't like what I was." Mark stood up, walked over to the edge and spit. "I appreciate the help you've been for me, big brother, but you and me can say our good-byes right now. Me and the folks said it two years ago." He put a hand on Dave's shoulder, squeezed for a second, then let go and sat back .
Dave sat in silence for a few more seconds, then reached out and took his brother's hand, held it and smiled as he looked at him. Mark smiled back, gave his hand a squeeze in return, then let go. "You gotta move, man. Not much time left to get out of the city."
Dave stood, shouldered his pack. "If we somehow make it through this, I'm coming back, Mark. You keep good care of my apartment."
Mark laughed. "Shit, Dave, nobody gonna make it through this. But I promise you, I'll only trash all the other apartments in the building. Yours stays safe."
"And don't get shot by some asshole who knows you aren't supposed to be here. Keep out of sight."
Mark nodded, waved his hand, then leaned back to watch the crowds again, not wanting to look his brother in the eye anymore. "Later."
After Dave had left, Mark leaned over the edge and watched until he saw him come out the front door and join the stream of people walking towards oblivion. Then he leaned back and looked at the black and gray sky, and wondered what surprises it and the night would bring.
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