Abby: Alone

A Short Story

By: Peter Martuneac

Narrated by: Mary Beth Petersen

Abby never expected life to be easy. The daughter of a father she's never met and a mother who works three jobs just to get by, she walks herself to her middle school in Chicago, fixes her own dinners, and keeps herself company.

Despite all the disadvantages stacked against her, however, Abby manages to keep a smile on and even dedicates her time to helping others who have even less than her. But one July day, something happens in the city that causes a mass panic while she's out grocery shopping, and Abby's life is forever changed.

She thought she knew how it felt to be alone, but she's about to learn the true, dark meaning of the word. This is the short story prequel to Peter Martuneac's full-length novel His Name Was Zach.

©2019 Peter Martuneac (P)2019 Peter Martuneac

An Intriguing Prologue!

Just listened to “Abby: Alone” and am looking forward to learning what happens next in Abby’s life! (In fact, I’ve already purchased “His Name Was Zach” and will be reading this paperback soon, so the wait won’t be long!)

Many thanks to the author for providing me with free access to this audio prologue of “His Name Was Zach.” It certainly whets my palate with some brief backstory and ignites my interest in what’s happening with Abby in the associated novel that begins two years after The Crisis.

This may reflect my personal beliefs on human flaws (that they exist and our life journey is about attempting to overcome, manage, or accept them), but…I found the first four chapters a bit thick with characterizing Abby (not quite 13) as someone who is even more mature, unselfish, kind, and articulate than most people! She seems perfect, as well as perfectly adapted to her circumstances (like never having met her father whom her mother never speaks about). I’m hoping the novel will reveal a realistic flaw (inside herself) that she will attempt to overcome (so I can root for her as she tackles it, in addition to surviving zombies alongside Zach).

Scarier than I thought, intriguing story

If you have anxiety, or any kind of deep and dark emotions be careful reading chapters 7 through the end. There is a stark contrast between the beginning, and the end, of the short story. I believe there is a 2nd book that looks at the relationship between Abby and another character.