The Survivor

The Survivor

Nostalgia is contagious. Once I pick up that photo album, or scrap book, there is no going back. Once I open that thing that carries my favourite memories, I can't stop looking through it. I can't help but remember those old times, when everything was okay. I can't help but remember those old times when I didn't have to worry.

There's a certain feeling I get when I look through these photos. I'm not sure if it's sadness, or loneliness, or what. All I know is that it brings tears to my eyes, and I long to go back in time. I wish that things didn't have to change.

I wish that the apocalypse never happened.

There was once a time when I was happy. It was a long time ago, yes, but I still remember it... 

You see, I loved this girl named Lillian. She was beautiful, sweet, funny and caring. She cared about everyone, and just wanted to be happy. We met when she was 16. We spent a few years together, happy as could be.

Then it happened.

It wasn't that bad at first. Just a few deaths, nothing too bad. Then it started spreading. All over the world, people were just dropping dead. It didn't matter how old they were, what their religion or gender was. Everyone was dying.

They would suffer though. They would suffer for days on end, before it happened. It started with shortness of breath, and headaches. Then there would be stabbing pain all over the body. Soon, they would barely be able to move or talk. There heart beat would be getting weaker and weaker. And finally, it would just stop all together.

Being immortal, I didn't have anything to worry about. The same couldn't be said for Lillian. She was simply human.

I didn't want her to suffer. I knew she had to die, but I didn't want her to have to hurt like that for days, in unimaginable pain. 

So I took matters into my own hands.

* *

The sun had already left the sky by the time I started for Lillian's house, leaving the village in darkness. There was an occasional lamp, or house light to help me see, but other than that, I had to rely on the moonlight.

I was constantly looking over my shoulder, scared that something was going to happen. The wind howled like a wolf, and I shivered, picking up my pace. Sadness hung in the air, making me feel cold inside. This stupid disease was killing off everyone, and I could do nothing to stop it.

After a few minutes of walking, I reached Lillian's house. She lived in a small stone two-story cottage. I knocked on the dark wood door, and stepped back a step, waiting for her to answer.

Finally the door opened, and Lillian's face appeared. She was smiling, but it seemed forced.

"Ryan!" she exclaimed happily. "What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," I said seriously. "Would you please accompany me to the forest?"Her smile faltered slightly.

"Okay," she replied. She grabbed her cloak, and stepped outside into the chilly air. We walked for a few minutes in silence, and finally reached a clearing in the forest. The moonlight shone down through the trees, making the everything shine. We decided to stop there.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Lillian asked, turning to face me.

"I..." I didn't know what to say. I couldn't bring myself to say what I was going to say. The rustling leaves mocked me as I stood there staring at her. 

I slowly pulled the gun out of my pocket, but kept it near my side. That way, it was visible to her, but not completely obvious.

Lillian's eyes widened in shock as she noticed the gun, and she took a couple steps back wearily.

"What are you doing, Ryan?" she asked.

"I'm sorry Lil," I said, my voice nearly a whisper. "I have to."

"I still have my life ahead of me," Lillian begged. The tears streaming down her face were waterfalls. "I have friends and family who will miss me."

"Everyone is going to die anyway," I told her bluntly. "No one can escape it."

"Then why are you killing me now?" she asked desperately. "Why aren't you letting me die the way they're all dying?"

"Because I don't want you to suffer," I whispered. "I love you too much to let you suffer like that."

"Please," she whispered, as I brought the gun to her chest. 

Please. That one word hurt me so much. It ripped my heart to shreds. It made me made want to burst into to tears, to somehow figure out a way to save her. It made me want to drop the gun, and hold her tight, reassuring her that it would all be okay. But I couldn't.

I loved her so much. I didn't want to hurt her, but I knew it was for the best. I couldn't let her see the end.

Maybe I had to live through the apocalypse, see the world be destroyed in front of my very eyes. Maybe I would have to stand by, and watch the world re-build itself. But that was my curse. I would never inflict that on her.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, wiping away her tears with one hand. 

Then I pulled the trigger.