When the blood moon ends, I look for Florida man. I scour the city for any trace of him.
"He has to be out here. He has too!" I tell myself, thinking I can wish it into existence.
Eventually, I see Florida man. On a sky bridge, out of blocks, so close but just out of reach. I start bridging over to him
"O-Oh hell man, you're right there, hey!" Florida man says.
I can hear the thankfulness in his voice. I'm thankful as well. Thankful that I didn't lose my only friend. I connect put bridges together l, and we head back home, having survived our first blood moon. Florida man seems... quiet though.
"You alright?"
"Ah- yeah..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep..."
I know somethings on his mind, but I don't know what. If he doesn't want to day though, he doesn't have to... when we get back to base, we sit together on the wall and look toward the horizon.
"We survived our first blood moon!" I say to Florida man, proud of our triumph.
"Yeah! Yknow, I didn't think we were gonna make it out of that one alive though... and I had never been so scared... standing on top of that little ledge..." he confides in me.
"But listen," he says, "I do have people out there. I mean... somewhere."
"Do you think Floridas still out there somewhere?" I ask him.
A long silence passes between us as we both take in the fact that this my be the last time we see each other.
"I gotta hold out hope, man..." Florida man says.
"I may be going out to find..." Florida man stops and thinks, "my home, but... if you ever need me to defend yours, just light the joint. And I'll be there."
We say our goodbyes, and Florida man jumps off our wall... no... my wall, and starts to walk away. Just as i think he's gone for good though, he turns around.
"Oh yeah," he begins, "I left a lil something for you in that chest over there!"
Florida man, you didn't have to do that; are you sure?!" I exclaim
"Oh yeah, im sure. You'll use it when you need it!" He shouts.
"A-Alright, the suns setting!", I say. He starts to run in the opposite direction.
"GO FLORIDA MAN!!" I say, holding back tears.
"I'll see ya!" He tells back.
"YOU ARE FLORIDA TO ME! YOU ARE THE SWAMP!! GOOOOO!!
And just like that, he's gone. He's gone and im alone. But I'm determined. With a new fire in my heart, im sure. I will survive this. I have too.
END OF CHAPTER
notes
Finally, finished the Florida arc. Taht was a lot. I'm determined to keep going though! I'm so Charlie core. See you next day!
