The End Of Life

David nodded and asked, "Ugh, I forgot to ask you this, but what is your name?" Feeling a bit awkward. 

The man smiled and said, "It's ok. My name is Baren. I am Dereck's father. I ran a small business in town before this happened." Extending his hand. 

David shook hands and said, "Myself David and this is Mark." Also introducing Mark. 

Baren nodded and said, "Now if you would excuse me. If you want anything you can find me on the 3rs floor." And exited the scene. 

Mark opened the door, and they went into a room with three hospital beds arranged neatly on one side with a small coffee table and 3 chairs. Mark kept his bag on the bed and sat on the chair. He looked at David and asked, "What are you thinking about now?"

It startled David as he heard this from Mark. He started to sweat slowly. He turned towards Mark and asked, "What do you mean?" As he slowly sat on one of the beds. 

Mark smiled and asked, "Oh, you know what I mean. Why were you asking those questions to that guy? Don't tell me it was just because you wanted to know. We both know that isn't true. So tell me what is the reason."

David coughed as he felt he was caught red-handed. He wryly smiled and said, "Can we help these people?" 

Mark looked at him and said with a flat voice, "You have to be serious. Because you asked, I agreed with you saving those two people and delaying our journey a whole day. Now, do you want to ask me to give our food away to them so they could eat? Because if you do, then I am ok in leaving you here with them." Mocking him at the end. 

David heard him and shook his head. He looked at Mark and asked, "I know you can think of ways to save these people here from this crisis. Just give an idea. I will try on my own." He didn't want to include Mark in this. It was his own intention to help these people. 

Mark looked at David's serious face and sighed. He shook his head and said, "Even though you are a doctor and seeing this hurts you to the core. You need to start getting over it. You will see this a lot in the future. Many people will beg you to save them. Now you can't be hypocritical enough to save every single one of them." This damped David's mood completely. Mark was right, he can't save everyone he looks at. 

"Mark, just give an idea. As I said I will only try to help them. I won't keep my life at risk." But it didn't stop David asking him one more time. 

Looking at his desperate face, Mark sighed and said, "Suggest them to go to Stargaze city's military camp. With the number of guns and police, they have if they are careful enough they might make it there. But it won't be easy at all, it all depends on their luck. Stargaze city is also closer than Evergreen city. So it won't be much of a problem for them. Because honestly, trying to survive here would only extend their death no matter what they try. But a military camp would have a better chance." Shrugging his shoulder, he leaned back. 

Hearing him, David nodded in understanding. He stood up and clapped. He looked at Mark and said, "Alright then. I will go and tell this to Baren." And exited the room. 

Seeing David exit the room, Mark sighed and shook his head. He didn't think there was even a chance of more than 50 percent in his plan succeeding. But it was the most optimal choice in the situation. He stood up and went towards the wall. He looked below and saw their jeep. 

He then came back and sat near Suzie and asked, "Do you want to eat anything?" 

Suzie nodded, and he went to his bag and took out some canned beans and a bottle of water. He opened the can and kept a plastic spoon in it and gave it to her. Suzie took it and started slowly eating on her own. Seeing her, he sighed and slowly said, "Suzie, if you ever feel hungry in the future. Just tell me ok? Don't keep it inside yourself." Suzie stopped eating for a second before she nodded and continued to eat. 

Mark took out another can before eating it himself. As they did this David was before Baren's room and knocked. He asked around after coming to the 3rd floor and a person showed him the way. 

"Who is it?"

"Baren it is me, David. I need to talk to you about something." 

"Oh, David, come in." And David went in. He came inside a neat office room. 

"Is there any problem, David? Please sit down." Pointing at the seat opposite to him, he asked. 

David shook his head and said, "No, after hearing your problem. I have a suggestion for you." As he sat before him. 

Baren nodded, and he continued, "ai think it is better if you go to the Stargaze city. There is a military camp there. And you surviving there is better than your chances here. So if you move there, you can avoid this. It is only a day's journey away in the current situation. We arrived here from Stargaze city so you can trust me." 

Baren heard him and asked suspiciously, "If it is safe there. Then why did you guys leave?" He found it strange that these people left that place when it should be safe. 

Hearing him David wryly smiled and said, "We have some personal reasons to go to Evergreen city. We will go back to Stargaze after our work there is done."

Baren nodded and asked, "How do you propose to move 300 people to another city. And you say it is a day's journey." 

David went silent and after a while, he remembered what happened near Suzie's house and said, "If we act quickly and search for vehicles out there in the town which still work. Then we would be able to find enough large vehicles like trucks to move the people." 

Baren nodded and said, "Alright then. Let's talk with the mayor about this." And stood up immediately.