The End Of Life

Hearing Denton, Gwen finally turned around and saw Denton supporting the unconscious Dereck with one hand while holding the knife with another. He pointed towards the hallway and said, "The bedroom to the left is his. I would also like if you could give us some space to talk." As emotionless and cold-hearted as it could be. 

Denton heard her request and turned towards David, who looked like his life was sucked out of his body. He couldn't understand how a person like him could even live in this cruel world. He was just too nice. He already guessed most of the story from their interactions and knew it wasn't David's mistakes. 

The kids were muddle-headed because of their loss and wanted to blame it on someone. David, who was soft and also the person who suggested they move to Stargaze, was the right target. He shook his head lightly and turned around towards the hallway. It was not his problem and could only be solved by David himself. 

After the earlier incident, the room was once again deadly silent. Gwen continued to look at David. Both of them were shaking. One with grief and one with rage. 

"Why did you come?" Gwen slowly asked the man. She couldn't ignore the silence and so broke it. She knew it would go on forever if she was not the one who breaks it. 

David's body shook harder after hearing what she said. He shook his head and said, "I didn't know. I didn't understand. I just wanted to know." Mumbling.

"What did you want to know? How everyone died because of the single most critical mistake of their life, which was listening to your dumb suggestion. Did you want to see our sorrow? Tell me. Don't look down. Look at me?" She blew off in a rage. 

"No, I just don't know. I wanted to talk to you guys and see how you were doing in the camp. I never thought this kind of thing would happen. I came yesterday and then came here early morning so I could meet you guys. When I asked Denton, he said it was only two people who came…." He couldn't continue beyond that point. He had no words to say to her. He held his head with his elbows on his knees, clutching his hair hard enough to rip it.

Gwen gritted her teeth. She became angrier when she heard his useless words. She stood up, slapped his hands away from his face with her left hand before slapping his face with the other.

"It was because of you. We believed you because you saved us and helped us. If we continued to live in the town, something might have happened, even if it didn't at least it won't be only both of us anymore." 

David looked blankly at the girl's rage. He was slapped, for the first time in a long time. A girl who was near his daughter's age slapped him. But all she said was true. It was what he had thought too. Even though it was Mark who suggested to him about Stargaze camp, it was still him who asked to help them and agreed to Mark's suggestion with no thoughts. He also remembered Mark telling there would not be much of a probability for them to reach the city. It was all his fault. Only if he would have listened to Mark's words and ended everything with saving the two kids. 

"Gwen, please tell me what I can do? I don't know what to do? Just tell me." His voice choked as he asked. The middle-aged man couldn't take the guilt anymore. 

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. Just shut the fuck up. And what can you do? Kill even us both?" She dropped back into her seat, exhausted. 

The room became silent after her outburst. David's thoughts were a complete disaster at the moment. He mechanically took out the gun from his bad and kept it on the tabletop, pushing towards the girl. He didn't know what he was doing in his guilt. He didn't even remember his daughter as he gave the gun, only the dead people.

"If it makes you feel better, please use it. If not, please tell me what happened. Give me a chance. I know I can't bring back the dead, but I would try to do anything possible within the scope of my capabilities." Looking into her eyes and pushing it further.

Gwen saw the Beretta on the tabletop and took the gun. David readily removed the safety lock for her as she aimed it at him. David closed his eyes and thought, 'I am sorry, Daisy. This is the only thing your father can think of. Please stay alive and happy wherever you are. I am going ahead and meeting mom.' remembering his baby girl. 

Looking at David closing his eyes and clenching his fists, while awaiting death, Gwen felt disgusted in him and threw the gun away. 

"Fuck you bastard." 

The man's uselessness frustrated her. She never wanted pity. Even though she blamed the man before them, she knew it wasn't completely his mistake. He was only trying to help them at that time after seeing their pitiable state. She felt her soul leave her body after all the things which happened. Seeing the man in front of her, she thought she could feel normal by venting all her emotions on him. 

But even after she did, she didn't feel satisfied at all. She knew she wouldn't even if he died. Because it wasn't completely his fault. Looking at him surrendering, and then grabbing the gun, she remembered him telling about his own daughter who was around her age. She didn't want to carry the guilt of killing the father of a girl who also didn't have a mother. 

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She looked at him and said, "We traveled well for two complete days."