Hello! Thanks for picking this story! This is just a disclaimer. I started this story when I was just a kid. I have received a few comments saying that a lot of "science" isn't correct in the first half of the story. I know this haha. But since this story is well over five years old and I continue to update it for my sake, I don't really want to go back and fix it. So please, if that won't bother you, continue on and enjoy my first big writing project. If it will, I recommend that you stop now, but I appreciate you stopping by. Without further ado, please enjoy Bittersweet!

Some may say this new life is horrible. I, on the other hand, don't mind it as much. The men are limited but there's less people. I'm not a very big people person and I don't count the dead things that are walking around, trying to eat us, people.

Everyday is a new adventure. We struggle for survival and that excites me. You never know what is going to happen tomorrow, tonight, or even the next hour. We could die at any moment. It forces everyone to finally start living a life. Sure, there are moments that make us think that it isn't worth trying but it only lasts a moment.

Unlike most of the people in our small group, I was living before all of this. I've had a few boyfriends here and there. Hell, vodka was my best friend. Went out ever weekend with a couple girls. Most nights I can hardly remember.

I woke up mostly every Sunday with some guy leaving my room. I didn't even know his name. This was the life for me. There was no commitment, no worries.

I know that life was gone but I'm still living. I have my own little tent with all of my stuff. I was able to sneak a bunch of alcohol in here in case something like this did happen. You know? Not being rescued. It doesn't appear that they are going to be making any more anytime soon. No one knows about it. It's all mine.

I joined a little camp with about twenty or thirty people. We are stationed outside of Atlanta. We can see the city. It would be a perfect view, except everytime we looked at it, it brought us back to our old lives. Things were much simpler then.

Most of the men in the camp were either taken or they weren't at all interested. That was strange to me. When I used to go out, men were all over me. My options were always very wide ranged. Now, they are very limited. Really, there was only one guy who was willing. He was a racist, sexist, disgusting redneck. No one liked him. I don't think even his brother liked him. His name was Merle Dixon.

He tried his luck on every woman in this place. Not one wanted to be within twenty feet of him. It was odd because he saved me for last.

One night, I was hanging in my tent, alone. I pulled out a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka and a glass, when Merle walked in. "Hey, whatchya got there baby girl?"

"What do you want Merle?" I took a sip. It had been too long since I had this and the taste was sensational.

"I would love to have some of that if you don't mind." He looked at me with a smile on his face.

I sighed. He wasn't going to leave unless I gave him some. "Alright. Have a seat." He sat on a chair that I had placed in the corner and I poured a glass for him. That was the last thing I remembered from that night.

The next morning, I woke up in my bed. The bottle of Grey Goose was on the floor, empty along with another one just like it. I was nude as was Merle, who was lying on the ground. He must have tried to escape last night but passed out.

It had been a long time since there was a guy who was still in my room when I woke up. I got up and looked around for clothes. Once I was at least half dressed, I picked up Merle's clothes, kicked him. "Get up." I threw his clothes to him.

"What the hell?" He rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"Get dressed and get out." The last thing I really needed right now was everyone knowing I slept with Merle. I felt a slight sense of shame but that was normal. I really just wanted him out.

He jumped to his feet. "Whoa girl. You were good," he said as he dressed himself.

"Thanks." I didn't look at him. I just tried to make my bed as he fumbled around with his clothing.

"We should do this some other time sweety." I opened the door to my tent and showed him out.

"Sure, whatever." I really stooped to a new low this time. I have been with some losers in my day but damn was I desperate. He would really want to do this again but I wasn't sure that I wanted to. This feeling was also normal. By tomorrow, I'll be ready for him again. I would even be ready to do it sober this time too.

I looked around. My tent was a mess. I spent half of the morning fixing it and putting everything back in its place. That is when I found Merle's hunting knife lying beside my nightstand. I hate when people leave their things in my tent. I made sure I was fully dressed and at least descent looking. I tucked the knife safetly into my shorts and went outside to find Merle so I can return his item to him.

I searched everywhere but I couldn't find him. I heard Lori call for me. "Rosalyn." I turned and waved at her. She waved at me to come and join her with the laundry.

I was always willing to help. I grabbed some clothes and began to hang them up with her. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where Merle is would ya?" She ussually knows everything.

"Um, he went with a few others to make a run into the city. He probably thought he would get something out of it, if you ask me. That man doesn't do a thing for anybody. Why do you ask?"

"No reason." She probably knew but I really didn't want to gloat that I had sex with Merle Dixon. He would probably do that when he got back.

Anyway, I didn't see it at the time but this was the day where my life would change forever. Where everything wasn't so simple anymore.