The Greens of Jericho

Great work, Marzee!

As usual, I think you used contrast in a really interesting way, juxtaposing here the earlier scenes of intimacy between Jake and Heather, when their relationship was new (or they were taking it to a new level), with these scenes of them as a more mature couple, facing life and death circumstances. Both scenes have an impact on these characters' lives, despite how different they are, and there are paralells too.

I also want to note that it was interesting reading about how to warm someone up when they have reached near freezing-to-death. I'm not sure how often I note the well-researched technical explanations and other aspects of the post bombs universe for which you provide background or description (like the election), but it's something you do really well, that adds another level to your story, making it much more than a romance or a character driven piece. I really get the sense that this is a whole world inhabited by these somewhat familiar characters, though they are also your own characters as well.

In this chapter, I enjoyed seeing how your characters changed and evolved, how their perspectives were radically different on this freezing night than that more carefree, exciting freezing night of five years earlier. I enjoyed the appearance of Mikey, Drake and Jeff again, and liked how you ended with Jake and Johnston, after the transformative moment they shared earlier.

One more thing I have to mention - I loved the way you sprinkled humour throughout this story. It was a perfect counterpoint to all the serious stuff going on. I especially liked the mention of (and longer version of) the story of Stanley and Jake's fireworks scheme.

Great work and I look forward, as always, to the next part.