[ 004 ] our old friend, death [season one, episode four]
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Tessa had fallen oblivious to the mindless chatter around her, her eyes remaining on the small campfire that crackled away in the middle of the group.
Most of her company had turned to partying thanks to Andrea and Amy (who'd caught enough fish to feed a small army). Everyone wore cheerful smiles on their face and laughter occasionally scattered through the group.
Tessa had become oddly mute after her attack on Ed unsure of what to say or who to say it too. She'd noticed how Carol had tried her best to avoid her, whether out of fear of her or Ed, she didn't know.
Luckily no one else seemed bothered by her violent tendencies. They all worried about the state she was in. She'd torn her stitches in the fight as well as accumulating several more bruises and scratches on her knuckles, wrists and arms. The colours had begun to become exciting and she must've sat for at least an hour whilst all the children inspected her injuries.
"You want some fish?" Sophia asked, her eyes wide as she offered a plate to Tessa.
"Yeah. Thank you." Tessa smiled at the young girl, glad that she didn't hold the attack on father against her. The innocence of children would always be a beautiful thing and Tessa was glad that adults cared enough to try and protect the humanity of their offspring even in such trying circumstances.
"I've got to ask you man." A grin crossed Morales's face as he turned his body towards Dale. "It's been driving me crazy."
"What?" Dale replied, confused laughter slipping through his lips as he waited to hear what Morales so desperately wanted to know.
"That watch." Morales pointed at the small watched that adorned Dale's wrist. "I see you every day, same time, winding that thing like a village priest saying mass."
"I've wondered this myself." Jacqui smiled, a cheeky tone filling her voice. "Unless I've misread the signs, the world seems to have come to an end."
"She's got a point." Tessa laughed. "I mean there ain't really any sense in winding it now, is there?"
The bearded man rolled his eyes as if the answer should be obvious; "Time... it's important to keep track, isn't it? The days at least."
"Maybe if you have appointments to get to or children you gotta drop at school but what are we countin' for anymore? Nowhere to be. No one to see. Ain't much left." Tessa's voice became slightly more serious as she pressed the matter, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Dale looked thoughtful for a minute, his hand going to the watch. "I like... I like what, um, a father said to his son when he gave him a watch that had been handed down through generations. He said 'I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire, which will fit your individual needs no better than it did mine or my fathers before me; I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you may forget it for a moment, now and then, and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it'."
