short spoken words about people I've almost loved/been loved by

After the world ended and most of the population had died out, a rumour began to spread amongst those who were left. Stories about a better world, a safe haven, far north. They say it's just like the old world, but why would people want to live like that if that's what killed them in the first place? Mai never tried to find Elim, despite everyone telling her to. She didn't understand why people would want to go back to their old ways even after they've witnessed the consequences. Instead, she walks. She walks for days aimlessly, collecting old things from people who have died, and seeing what's left of the world. She never had a purpose for living, and she never never needed one; until she stumbles across a dying man in a supermarket.