Tale(s) of the End

Shelly and Sarah

"Shelly, put that down." Fear ebbed at Sarah's voice at the sight of the gun.

"Everyone who loved me is dead, Sarah!" she shouted, hoping that volume would mask the quiver in her voice. Her finger trembled at the trigger.

"Somehow, I survived. I guess I never was all that lucky. I'm going to die out here, Sarah, and I'd like to at least choose how I go."

"Shelly, you can't!" Sarah sobbed.

"WHY NOT?"

"Because there's still a chance! You love chances, don't you? You were always looking for an opportunity to change the world and now you have it. People are fighting back, people who have never fought in their lives! I always imagined that in a situation like this, you would be the one to take the lead. I admired you for it. I loved you for it."

Shelly's arm was growing tired. Once upon a time, that might have been true. But that was so long ago. Now, she wasn't so sure. "Well maybe you don't know me as well as you thought you did."

"Please, just give it another week. We'll be at the refugee camp in a few days, I know it!" Tears streamed down Sarah's cheeks. Shelly held her gaze for a very long time.

Slowly, steadily, she rested the gun at her side.

"I'm too much of a coward to off myself, anyway." She laughed, hoarsely, letting tears well in her eyes. Sarah ran to her and embraced her. She ran her fingers through Sarah's long hair and kissed her head.

"I'm just so tired," she whispered, breaking the silence of the woods.

"I know. I know. Please don't ever leave me," Sarah murmured meekly into her chest.

"Don't worry, I won't..."

They stood there among the trees. Soon they would be safe, she thought.

A hand slowly reached to where the abandoned gun sat.

It raised to match the height of both torsos, both hearts.

Soon.

"I won't ever leave your side."

Bang!