A Survivor's Diary of the Apocalypse (TWD/Daryl Dixon)

S1Pt2 - Closure

It's been a month since everything started. Since I've lost my family. I've been moving around the neighborhood in search for food and supplies. So far I've gathered a good stock of food, a rifle and pistol, and a hunting knife. I had a couple close calls with the dead, but because of that I learned how to survive. I realized that all they do is walk and it's very easy to sneak past them.
Atlanta was only 20 miles away so I create a plan. I was going to gather all the supplies I could and head to the city. Or at least the outskirts of Atlanta. I needed to see if anything on the news was true. I wanted to know if people are still alive, really alive, just like me. There hasn't been anyone I've seen that's alive, all I've seen is the dead.
But, before I headed out to the city, there was unfinished business here. After killing a few dead ones I learned how to be careful. I practiced on stabbing and shooting, perfecting my skills and becoming an enemy against the dead. But, it wasn't easy to learn. I had to kill my once neighbors. The people I had barbecues with on the weekends, went to church with, who were family friends since I was a kid. I had to kill them, end their suffering, and try to give them some kind of... peace, I guess. So, I need to do the same for my own family. I need to give them peace and myself, at least, some closure.

~~~~~~~~~~

I stood in my front yard for probably half an hour. I didn't see any signs of life or the dead. It was quiet which made me unsteady. I began second-guessing myself.
"I don't know if I can do this..." I said.
Bud whined, sat down, and leaned against my leg.
"I know, Bud. I know I have to... it's the least they deserve." I said. I signed and motioned to Bud. "Stay put."
He stood up, barked, and then sit back down. I took out my knife and walked up the front steps to the porch. I peeked through the windows and saw no one. I opened the door and slowly entered the living room, being careful not to make too much noise. I walked down the hallway and saw that the door to my sister's room was still closed. As I approached the door I heard shallow groans on the other side and that told me they're still in there. I then pushed the table that was blocking the door to the side. I tapped on the door with my knuckles which alarmed them. Hands hit the other side of the door and they growled at me, scratching the door trying to get through. I held my hand up to the door and rested my forehead on top of my hand.
"I'm sorry..." I said.
When they heard my voice, they began to growl louder and hit the door harder.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you all." I said, trying not to cry. "I should've done something. I could have prevent you guys from... dying." My voice began to crack and I wiped a few tears from my eyes.
They still continued to moan and I began to wondering if somehow they could even understand what I was saying.
"I love you." I whispered. "I have to do this though. Maybe you guys could finally rest. You guys don't have to be scared anymore."
I put my hand on the door knob and twisted it. Their groans got louder and they were hitting the door harder. I pushed open the door and backed down the hallway allowing for some room between us. I had to do this smart, I couldn't mess up because one wrong move and I could become one of them.
The first one I saw come out of the room was my sister. She looked down the hallway and chomped her teeth at me.
"It's not her." I thought. "She's gone. That's not her."
She began walking towards me, stretching out her arms and twisting her neck. When she was within reaching distance, I pushed her arms away and twisted her around, stabbed her in the back of the skull. She slumped to the ground and I leaned her against the wall, right at the same time when my brother finally saw me. I saw where he got bitten in the neck and the blood soaked his entire shirt. His mouth was covered in blood, probably not his, and he just stood there and stared at me. I walked towards him and that's when he came after me, but I then stabbed him in the head. I sat him against the wall and then walked into the room where I last saw my mother. And there she was, turned but unable to move. She was eaten to the point that her legs were gone and her stomach was ripped open, her intestines laying next to her on the floor. She saw me and quietly moaned, snapping her teeth like she was hoping she could reach me. I kneeled next to her, but she was too weak to try and grab me. I looked away and wiped my tears and when I looked back, she was just staring at me. I stabbed her in the head and there she laid, finally dead. And there my entire family laid to rest, and I got my closure.

~~~~~~~~~~

I stayed in my house for the night few nights so I could give them a proper burial. In the morning I put each body in their own grave and covered them up. Each one got a cross and an item to remember them by. My brother, his favorite toy car. My sister, her teddy bear she has kept since she was a little girl. My mother, her necklace she had in her jewelry box that carried her wedding ring. I backed up and looked at the graves, Bud was laying by my side keeping me company so I didn't feel so alone.
"Well... this is my goodbye." I began. "I loved you guys so much. I just wish I could've..." I said and my voice cracked. "You guys are at peace now. That's what's important..."
I wiped a few tears and stood there for a minute in silence. Bud sat up and leaned against me and I pet his head. I then picked up my bag of supplies and my guns and looked back at the graves one more time.
"Come on Bud. It's time to go."