This did a lot for just over 10k words! I felt you really nailed down an intense headspace with Es that felt savage to inhabit but ultimately beautiful and warm in the end. You knew what you wanted this apocalypse to be, made it more interesting and evocative than they normally are, and you did not answer any more than needed to be answered - you just went ahead and sold the ending on a moving scene that I will personally not forget. This was exquisite.