Keeping Him Alive

Untitled Part 8

I noticed the sun rising, it looked so beautiful. I wondered if I should wake Danny so he can see it. I decided to wake him. I lightly tapped his arm, and moved it. His eyes fluttered open. "Yes sissy? What is it?" He asked in his cute morning voice. "Look over at the trees, can you see the sun? Isn't it beautiful?" He turned over and looked, he nodded his head. "yes, very pretty" he said.

He put his hands up and cupped them. He laughed. "look Sissy, I'm holding the sun in my hands." I moved my head to look at it from his angle, and it did look like he was holding the sun up. I stood up and shook his hair with my hand. "Hey!" he giggled, as he tried swatting my hand away.

That's when I then heard a hiss that I knew all too well. I turned my body over to look at it, instinctively going in front of Danny. I quickly took out the axe while watching the dead one sway back and forth. It was standing behind the trees, looking at us with sad, desperate eyes.

It was a he, he had long shaggy blonde hair that now had dead leaves and sticks in it. Its eyes were foggy but I could see a hint of blue in it. It had pale skin, it was so pale I felt like I could have seen through him ....it. but it was so dirty and nasty I can't quite see right through it. It was wearing a faded striped shirt, that was red and orange. I spotted a pin on the right side of his shirt. His name was Wyatt. I guess he was working, probably at some 7-11 when our world went to hell.

Danny's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Why isn't he coming at us?" He asked. I had no answer. I hadn't even thought of it. The thing swayed back and forth, back and forth. He... it seemed anxious. Its eyes were on me, it looked right into me or was it that he was looking right through me?

I then thought of Danny, and tightened my grip on the axe. And as if it noticed, it started to turn around and walk away. It was walking away. I didn't know what to make of it. I almost felt sorry for the thing. Maybe it knew it was once a human being, and saw us and remembers how it was to be alive.

That word stuck with me. I should be grateful I am alive right, but I am not. I mean how can I when the reason I live and breathe is dying? I envied the thing. That it no longer had anyone to care for, it didn't have to be worried about being eaten alive or even trying to stay alive, and I hated it for that

I picked up my axe and ran towards it. I smashed its head in with the axe, over and over again. I stopped when its face and head was unrecognizable. The only thing that was left was it's mop of hair and chunks of flesh. Yet none of this made me feel better. It, even in death is lucky, because it no longer had to bother finding food, or be stuck wandering around for eternity.

I turned around to see Danny staring at me. He looked sad, almost like he felt bad for the thing. "Ana he wasn't going to hurt us.... Why did you do that" He turned around not facing me or what was left of the thing. I wanted to get angry at Danny for being foolish, I mean I did someone else a favor anyone else who is still alive. Theres one less thing in the world. But I couldn't seem to find it in me to get angry with Danny.

I walked over to him and put my hand on his shoulders. Instead of justifying why I did what I did, I apologized. "I am sorry Danny, I really am. I didn't mean to get like that." He turned around and looked at me. Hd crossed his arms. "It's okay, just don't do it again." Oh my Danny, such a caring soul.

And in that moment for a split second, I forgot that my little Danny is dying.I smiled."Alright kiddo let's get a move on." I said. He just nodded his head. He slowly got up and I noticed he also winced, nor did I just imagine it? I flinched as he winced again in pain. How did I never notice, now I seem to notice everything, his wincing, his gasps as it hurts him. I can't even explain how sad it is for me, but I need to be strong, I have to be.