Together, we can break the world record for longest book. When this challenge gets the necessary number of entries, it will expire and we will turn it into a book. Each entry will be its own chapter. Feel free to build from existing entries or write something radically different.

As Long As She’s Safe

As long as she’s safe, I’ll be fine.

It’s happening in another world, as far as I’m concerned. I’m far away from this mess. I’ll be safe until the day these brain-dead bastards learn to commandeer and captain a boat.

Every news channel that hasn’t shut down already is reporting the end of the world. They’re being overdramatic. It isn’t the end of my world, it’s just the end of theirs. I’m not a sympathetic person. They created the virus, now they’re paying the price.

But she’s there. My best friend, my pen pal. I fell in love with her words. I needed them. I need them.

I flipped through all 342 of her letters today. One more and we’ll be at a palindrome again. She loves those. I started to read through every single one of them. I stopped at 104 when she told me that she thought that she might’ve found someone special back at home. I didn’t want to think about it. Maybe he’ll keep her safe, though. I don’t want to think about it.

She was saving up to hop on a boat and meet up with me for a month, where we could finally meet face to face. I hold on to that hope the same way I held my mother’s hand when I was frightened. The virus could potentially throw a wrench in her ability to come here. The virus could stop me from seeing the girl I had fallen in love with.

But even if I never get to see her face in person, I’ll be able to get through the day.

Because as long as she’s safe, I’ll be fine.