A Hard Decision

Lake Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada

June 2045

 

 

Jen’s foot slipped in the mud as she got out of the truck.

 

“Careful!” Naomi said as she got out her side.

 

The two women moved to a grassy area in front of the truck. Around them were fields of mud and exposed soil - the results of the recent massive rainstorm.

 

They looked toward their house, still standing but showing the evidence of the recent flooding. Water lines were half-way up the foundation walls. The wooden deck had been washed away and was now just lumber piled against the trees at the edge of their lawn. The patio destroyed.

 

“Looks like we were lucky,” said Jen.

 

“Again,” sneered Naomi.

 

Jen turned to face Naomi.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Look around, Jen! The yard’s gone! The driveway’s gone! The deck and patio are gone! It will take us months to recover. Not to mention the cost!”

 

“But we can do it,” pleaded Jen.

 

“And then what? What disaster will come next year?”

 

“It’s our home, Naomi. We’ve lived here for twenty years. Twenty good years. I’m not willing to give up so easily!”

 

Naomi let out an exasperated sigh, turned around and started walking away. After a few steps, she turned back.

 

“Jen. Look,” she said pointing across the lake to a burned scar in the forest on the far side of the valley. “That was two years ago. And over there!”, pointing to up the mountainside on their side of the lake to another scar. “That was last year.”

 

“And now,” she continued, “this year it’s the fucking – what did they call it – oh yea, atmospheric river. That rainstorm almost washed our house away. It’s the third time in as many years we’ve had to evacuate with no promise we’d have anything to come back to.”

 

“I know it’s been rough,” said Jen softly. “It’s scared me too, but we just can’t give up.”

 

“Why not!” yelled Naomi. “Why can’t we just leave and find somewhere safer?”

 

“Is there anywhere safer?”

 

“There has to be. My god, some days I think the universe wants everyone to leave. But no. People are too stubborn – or stupid!”

 

Jen leaned back against the truck thinking of all the work in front of them. It had been months before the smoke smell from the wildfires had gone. It would take all summer to rebuild the deck, patio and yard. And what if there was another wildfire later this summer.

 

I’m forty-two, she thought. Do I want to do this year after year?

 

She pushed off from the truck and went over to Naomi, hugging her.

 

“You’re right,” she said softly. Let’s start a new life somewhere else.”