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We spent several days preparing, the first 3 days we were in charge of looking for food for the trip, we checked what was left of the city, there were some houses and buildings that still had somewhat useful things like clothes and various materials. After checking the city we took advantage of Samantha's knowledge to make some weapons made of wood, apparently it was not my imagination that she really knew about hunting.

In the following days, with some help, she made me a bow from the materials in the forest, she taught me how to make one and how I could make the arrows, she also explained some basic concepts about hunting the different beasts of the forest.

She really was incredible, I don't know what kind of life she had until now but that knowledge is very valuable in these times.

After finishing getting ready for a week we decided to go out the next day, that night we went to bed earlier than usual since we would have to leave early to be able to advance the day.

(I felt something on my face that made my eye a little itchy)

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After a moment I woke up, I had a leaf in my eye and on my pillow too.

I usually removed the patch to sleep more comfortably, although I didn't expect Samantha to get bored enough to wake me up. As I stretched she started to talk.

Samantha: It's been a long time since I felt at peace and tranquility.

Robert: Peace and quiet? These days were difficult for me, I am not used to nature.

As I told him this, I put the patch back on.

Samantha smiled and started to laugh a little.

Samantha: That was kind of funny, who would say that someone who looks expert wouldn't know how to survive in the wild.

Robert: For your information, I am an ordinary person, I have no knowledge of nature.

Samantha: It's true that I was generally focused on that part in my home, but I'm sure humans do it too, even those in your world.

Robert: There are many things that I don't know in general, you seem to know how to do everything.

Samantha: If hunting is everything for you, I don't know what to think about you.

I felt a little devalued when he told me that.

Samantha: Well, leaving that aside, I'm curious about something. How have you survived so far? What were you doing before the disaster?

It was a question I didn't want to... hear, it's really been a while since it all started, I don't consider myself to be a good or a bad person, I was just surviving, but there were times when I did things that made me wonder if it was right or wrong.

Robert: Well, it's not that it's a very different story from the others... I think so... but it's a bit of a long story, before the whole disaster, I lived with...

(Flashback)

Robert: You really are very slow...

Michael: If you had some patience, I'm sure you would live more peacefully, dad...

While Michael was telling me that, he was running around looking for who knows what.

Robert: I'll get the car ready while you finish... sir tranquility.

As I was leaving the house I heard Michael shout, "I'm almost there!" After ignoring him I took the car out of the garage and parked it in front of the house, I turned on the radio, I wanted to listen to some music.

But the station is broadcasting news, which was rare at that time, "Different tremors have been detected throughout the country... For several days now... The government reports that they are investigating the reason, we must remain calm and avoid being in crowded places...."

After that the radio stopped playing, I only heard static, how strange, that gave me a bad vibe, while I was trying to look for something Michael got into the car.

Michael: Don't you think you should be more patient, Dad? I'm starting to have an idea why I'm leaving you mom...

I had been bothered by what Michael said but I let it go.

Robert: You really have a loose tongue like your mother... Anyway, how strange, no radio station is working...

Michael: It's time for you to change cars, not even the signal is getting through to this clunker.

After driving for a while we arrived at Michael's school, there were too many students and families, I guess there is a reason it is the biggest event in the school and in the neighborhood. I parked the car a little far away because there was no space, we got out and started walking.

Michael: This time we're going to beat those eleventh grade cheaters.

Robert: I very much doubt that the ninth graders can beat the eleventh graders but cheer up.

Michael: Ugh... you really suck at support and motivation, I wish Uncle Eric was here.

Robert: Hahaha it won't take long to arrive.

Stolen novel; please report.

Michael: Really?! Why didn't you tell me, now I have to play seriously so as not to disappoint him.

Robert: Because it was a surprise, but look now you're motivated, so it worked.

Michael: Mmm...

I laughed and patted Michael's head, after walking for a few minutes we arrived at the school, entered and headed to the field.

Michael: Good! Watch me carefully, today we will win the final!

Robert: Hahaha I won't take my eye off you.

After that Michael went to where his team and coach were.

I walked over to some somewhat empty bleachers and sat down, after about 10 minutes someone appeared behind me and tapped me on the back.

Eric: Hello, my dear little brother, I see that you still have the habit of sitting in secluded places and alone.

Robert: But it was you who told me to sit in the usual place...

Eric: Yes, yes, what you say, now we have an important mission, to encourage Michael, our little man today becomes a man, he will finally beat those filthy elevens.

Robert: Last year you said the same thing and ended up crying.

Eric: Shut up and go buy food, have some money, poor thing.

Robert: We live in the same house...

Eric: Go now, I'm hungry.

After some teasing I walked towards the store, I was hungry too, I got to the line and it was quite long so I had to wait, after about 10 minutes it was just me and a girl left as the game was about to start. Everyone ran to find seats, I hope Eric saves my seat.

The girl asked for something to drink and a cookie, she started searching her pockets but couldn't find anything, apparently she lost her money or something like that, after seeing that she was a little worried I decided to help her.

Robert: I pay for it.

Unknown: Eh... But...

Before I could say anything, I paid what the girl had asked me for, the guy at the store winked at me, obviously I wasn't doing it with that intention, but well, I let it go.

Robert: Don't worry, it's something that happens to anyone.

After that I started buying things to eat with Eric.

Unknown: Um... I don't feel right accepting this without giving you the money or something in return...

Robert: Don't worry about that, I don't help you by expecting something in return, so calm down.

The guy gave me everything I asked for and I started walking back to the game, but the girl called me

Unknown: Wait!... Eh... W-what's your name?...

Robert: Ah... My name is Robert, nice to meet you.

Unknown: Robert... Nice to meet you... My name is Aisha.

Aisha? What a strange name, I imagine she must be foreign or something, I have never heard a name like that in my life. And looking at her better, she looked different, she was wearing a lot of clothes, she seemed to want to hide, she had glasses, a scarf and a hat, it was strange, I could tell that she was different from anyone, my instinct felt strange, but well, these days I don't I walk in my five senses.

Robert: What a nice name you have, I had never heard of it.

Aisha got a little nervous but continued talking.

Aisha: Um... yeah? They don't tell me that often... um..., can I see you later and meet you?... I would really like to thank you...

I didn't know Aisha had any interest in me, but I'm a skeptical person right now, so I won't get my hopes up.

Robert: Sure, whenever you want we can meet again.

Aisha was very happy.

Aisha: Okay!

She approached me excitedly, and took my palm, drawing a kind of butterfly.

Aisha: See you later!

After saying that he went the other way and not towards the game, how strange, if he didn't come to watch the game, why did he come? Maybe he came with a family member I thought. After that I decided to continue on my way, when Eric arrived he almost slaughtered me, I was incredibly angry because he was very hungry and the game had already started.

Eric: I thought turtles were slow until I met you...

Robert: I told you I was sorry, there was a big line.

While he was saying that, the audience began to shout, apparently it was a counterattack play, Michael's team began to run towards the rival's goal, then Michael's teammate filtered a great pass, now only he and the goalkeeper remained.

Robert: Come on Mike!

Eric: You can!

Michael hooked the goalkeeper and managed to leave him behind, he ran towards the ball, when he was about to kick it, the entire floor began to shake, it wasn't just any tremor, it was the strongest I had ever felt in my life, it was so strong that it was impossible to stand up. for a long time.

People started to panic very quickly, everyone was running towards the exit or looking for their children or family, I went down the stairs as fast as I could and ran towards Michael, we had to get out of here. I yelled at him so he could see us in the middle of all the people. Michael turned to look at us, when he was about to go towards us the ground literally opened, that was impossible, a hole began to get bigger while it continued to shake, many people began to fall to the bottom. I only saw darkness in that gap.

Michael staggered and was about to fall, he grabbed the edge but he wasn't going to hold on for long, as soon as I saw that, I ran, ran and ran as much as I could, when he was about to fall. I managed to take him by the hand, after a few seconds Eric came to help me lift him up. As we were climbing the edge collapsed, Eric reached out to grab my hand before I fell with Michael I managed to grab Michael as I grabbed Eric's hand. but Eric wasn't going to last long, and there was no one to help us, everyone was like crazy screaming and running while they were crushed by the rubble or fell into the hole.

Eric: Ahg!... I don't think I can last much longer Robert...

Robert: Hold on! You must do it! I'm not going to let go of Michael!

Michael was scared, but for a moment he looked up and his expression changed.

Michael: Let go of me dad... If we continue like this we will both fall...

Robert: NO! I promised I would protect you! I have to do it!.

Michael smiled when he heard that.

Michael: You did it, I won't blame you dad, you kept your promise...

Robert: Shut up! Eric, damn it, I'm not going to let go of him, I'd rather die with him!

Eric began to lose strength and loosen his grip, Michael seeing this made a decision that he didn't want him to make.

Michael smiled and told me.

Michael: Now you can find a new path dad...

Michael released his grip and I couldn't have him, I could only watch him fall.

Robert: NO! NO! NO! please no...

Eric began to lift me with the little strength he had left.

Robert: Let go of me! Let me go!

The tears didn't stop falling.

Eric: Stop moving you idiot! Michael did this so you would be safe...! Don't let it be vain!

I stopped moving until Eric could lift me up, Eric's expression reflected anger and sadness, the building began to fall apart.

It took Eric a while to come to his senses but he finally stood up.

Eric: We have to go Robert, this school is going to bury us alive.

I listened to Eric but at the same time I didn't, time had stopped passing for me, I didn't care about anything right now, I'd rather die for anything right now.

Seeing that I wasn't going to move, Eric took my arm and moved me with it. I was moving by inertia but I really didn't care about anything, I'd rather die right now if that were the case.

He dragged me out of the school while it was collapsing, there was a large gap that went from the street and crossed the school and continued to who knows where.

There was a lot of panic, many people missing and others apparently dead, we were not the only ones affected, in the middle of the crowd we managed to get to the car, we got in and Eric turned on the radio.

"... This is chaos... There are too many victims of this earthquake that occurred... on the entire ground of the town..."

Apparently the shaking had been quite considerable, anyway I didn't care much about those things at the moment, Eric and I didn't say anything on the way home, not a single word, just silence.

After that incident the house felt very empty, so much silence felt like torture, Eric had told me that he would be home for a while due to the earthquake, since he wouldn't be able to go to work. We spent a long time without talking to each other. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I locked myself in my room almost all day and didn't eat much, I didn't want to do anything, I just wanted to stay still and alone.

What sense does life have if the reasons you had to continue vanished out of nowhere? I thought many times and in detail about committing suicide.

It wasn't a bad idea at all, but when I tried it, something inside me wouldn't let me, I wanted to give it all up, but I knew why I couldn't. Those were his words, he wouldn't have wanted this, he wouldn't do that... But what's the point of being like this. It's like a curse to stay alive

The more I thought about it, the more my head ate away at me.

After being like this for a while I fell asleep...