Today's episode is written by Melissa Dykes. Melissa is the author of All the Elders Orphans, a powerful & moving post-apocalyptic novel that pits one woman’s humanity against the dark realities of a brutal new world – and at the heart of it all, a child’s life hangs in the balance. The story we're sharing today is part of Melissa's debut novel - it's one of the best indie novels I've come across in the last few months (and that's saying something), and if you're down to find out how the story finishes, you can find All the Elders Orphans on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/All-Elders-Orphans-Book-One/dp/1536911445/ Get featured on the podcast: ashtales.com/short-story-submissions/