The End of the World and Other Signs of the End of the World - ONC 2021

Juliet: Attempt #7

I forgave him, of course. I forgave him the second I woke up the sixth day. I would have done the same thing if I thought it would save him. I had shot missiles at drones and ended the world for him, after all. I was almost hypocritical. 

I waited for him to come back all day, the day we spent apart. I knew he would. He always did.

When the clock hit three, I started to doubt. I'd been waiting by the door all morning, and I almost moved to the kitchen, but then I thought he was planning on making a grand entrance, so I waited for a bit longer.

I would have found him myself, but I'd seen him heading to the bus stop that morning and I didn't know where he'd gone.

He showed up on my doorstep seconds before the world ended. I didn't let him go until we died.

I woke up the next morning feeling cold to the sound of rocks thrown at my window. My clock said it was close to seven. My parents had already left.

"You're later today," I said when I opened my door.

"You're not dressed," August noted.

"It's day seven."

"Day of rest?"

A smile crept across my face. "It's like you can read my mind."

I let him in to pack stuff for our day off while I went to go get ready. I felt like dressing nice for the first time since the world ended, and I decided to wear a sundress. They were so much better for this weather, anyway.

"So." I sat on my kitchen counter and started filling water bottles. "What are we doing on this glorious free day?"

August looked up from the apple slices he was cutting. "Everything we've ever wanted to do. Let's just... live today like it's our last."

"We're not going to rob a bank."

"Okay, I was ten when I had my bank-robbing phase. I understand it's illegal now." But he sounded a little disappointed, like maybe he was thinking about it.

"Hey, you know when you said you'd end the world for me?" I didn't know why I was bringing this up now, but I kind of wanted to tell August about the missile thing.

"I do remember that, yeah." His voice was careful. He didn't know where I was going with this.

"And remember when you died?"

"I remember that, too."

"I did end the world because you died. The plan worked that day. I blew everybody up with the missiles."

August's jaw dropped. "The plan worked? You ended the world for me? You - what? Why?"

"I didn't want to be... alone. It wasn't worth it - saving the world, I mean - if we didn't both get to enjoy it." I fumbled my explanation, but how could I explain it? How could I tell him how I felt when every time I went to say it, the words got caught in my throat? 

I couldn't. I wouldn't. I wouldn't ruin our perfect day.

"I guess we're even, since I nuked everyone when you died."

I nearly fell of the counter. "You what?"

"You hacked that government thing, right? So I just... told them to nuke everyone. And the world ended."

"Shit, August, you nuked everyone?" He killed everyone for me. I wondered if that meant what I thought it did

"And you blew everyone up for me. I can't believe you-"

"I can't believe you, either." I hopped off the counter. "I can't believe us. We must be... insane. Insane best friends."

"Best friends." August sighed. "So. What should we do today?"