Jennifer thought it was Christmas, but who could be sure? Still she wrapped the doll she found in the empty drug store in some old magazine paper with shiny happy people on it. She looked at her hands as she wrapped it, dirty and worn, nothing like the clean made up skin of the people on the paper, slick and shiny. She wondered if they were even the same species anymore? 

Her daughter slept soundly next to her, little breaths rising and falling in rhythm with the world. It wasn’t much of a gift but it was the thought. Plus there weren’t many moments for joy in this place, so Jennifer tried to provide when able. She got up to boil some water at the firepit, perhaps some mint tea would set the mood. Her daughter rose then,

“Hey momma, whatcha doing?” She asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes. 

“Hey baby. Do you know what day it is?”