Very short chapter. Dedicated to a friend.

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2089, UNPC Universal Calendar.

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He closed the door of the battered pickup truck he'd put back together, restoring it piece by piece.

He walked off into the woods, and never once looked back.

he walked until the sun slanted through the trees. Until he was surrounded only by nature.

Once, he stumbled, but he kept walking, blazing a trial through the underbrush.

He stopped, panting, not realizing how fast he was walking.

He stood tall, with his shoulders back, and his head held high.

He took a deep breath, and pulled his pistol from his appendix holster.

He pressed the muzzle against his temple, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The click made his ears ring.

He fell backwards and landed on his ass, looking at the pistol in his hand, feeling like a thousand pound weight was lifted off of his chest. The sounds of the birds, bugs, and the wind in the trees was louder now.

He pulled the slide back, and the 10mm 220 grain snub nose hard cast cartridge fell into his palm.

He rolled it over in his fingers, and blinked a few times as his vision grew fuzzy, tears falling from his eyes as he looked down.

The primer had a circular indent from where the striker had hit it. He stared at it for a long time, swallowing thickly.

He put the cartridge in his pocket, and stood, breathing in and out slowly, taking long, deep breaths.

He pulled the folded piece of loose leaf paper out, and read it a half dozen times. Swallowing again, a bead of sweat mixed with tears dripped off of his nose dripped onto the page.

He pulled the heavily weathered Zippo lighter out of his pocket, and sparked it once.

He watched the note burn, and turned on his heel, dropping the burning note onto the ground.

He reached his truck at dusk. A familiar German was sitting in the truck, the engine running and the radio playing quietly.

Charles said nothing, just opened the door and got into the passenger seat.

Eric pulled the parking brake release, and put it in 1st gear, feathering the clutch so they rolled away smoothly.

"You follow me?" Charles asked, no emotion to his voice.

"No." Eric replied.

"You make it do this?" Charles asked, holding the cartridge up for him to see.

Eric shook his head wordlessly.

"She wants to see me I take it?" Charles asked.

"She does." Eric replied. "And she's got an offer." He added, looking Charles in the eye.

Just like that.