Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā šš Ā š½š¼š¼šš Ā āššššš . Ā Ā no Ā longer Ā living , Ā just Ā surviving , Ā but Ā these Ā days Ā itās Ā harder . Ā Ā when Ā they Ā became Ā orphans , Ā she Ā had Ā to Ā hold Ā it Ā together , Ā keep Ā them Ā safe , Ā protect Ā her Ā sister Ā at Ā all Ā costs . Ā Ā now Ā she Ā has Ā failed Ā even Ā that . Ā Ā not Ā one Ā to Ā want Ā anyone Ā to Ā worry Ā for Ā her , Ā keeps Ā quiet Ā most Ā days , Ā does Ā her Ā part , Ā quietly Ā in Ā the Ā back , Ā an Ā observerĀ , Ā as Ā always . Ā Ā there Ā is Ā no Ā meaning , Ā no Ā use , Ā only Ā routine . Ā Ā always Ā volunteers Ā for Ā keeping Ā watch Ā on Ā the Ā hours Ā nobody Ā wants , Ā trained Ā eyes Ā looking Ā at Ā the Ā outside Ā world . Ā Ā thereās Ā the Ā cleaning Ā of Ā weapons Ā or Ā even Ā the Ā most Ā mundane Ā of Ā tasks Ā around Ā the Ā house , Ā must Ā always Ā keep Ā busy , Ā and Ā yet Ā her Ā brain Ā still Ā manages Ā to Ā drift Ā to Ā her Ā grief . Ā Ā every Ā waking Ā moment Ā is Ā painful , Ā not Ā a Ā single Ā day Ā goes Ā by Ā when Ā she Ā doesnāt Ā think Ā about Ā a Ā particular Ā experience Ā or Ā conversation Ā she Ā wants Ā to Ā share Ā with Ā cassie , Ā only Ā to Ā be Ā hit Ā with Ā the Ā realisation Ā that Ā she Ā will Ā never Ā see Ā her Ā again , Ā will Ā never Ā hear Ā her Ā laugh , Ā her Ā voice . Ā Ā barely Ā holding Ā it Ā together , Ā hours Ā go Ā by Ā and Ā she Ā forgets Ā the Ā most Ā common Ā of Ā tasks Ā for Ā her Ā own Ā survival , Ā including Ā eating . Ā Ā so Ā when Ā she Ā opens Ā the Ā door Ā to Ā see Ā carl , Ā itās Ā not Ā surprising . Ā Ā not Ā that Ā the Ā group Ā in Ā general Ā was Ā not Ā concerned , Ā but Ā he Ā was Ā the Ā one Ā who Ā always Ā showed Ā up , Ā made Ā sure Ā to Ā bring Ā food , Ā had Ā to Ā watch Ā her Ā eat Ā before Ā leaving . Ā Ā so Ā the Ā door Ā opens Ā wider , Ā a Ā step Ā taken Ā back Ā so Ā he Ā can Ā walk Ā in . Ā Ā she Ā wants Ā to Ā tell Ā him Ā that Ā he Ā doesnāt Ā have Ā to Ā do Ā this , Ā owes Ā her Ā nothing , Ā she Ā is Ā not Ā his Ā responsibility Ā and Ā she Ā is Ā fine , Ā he Ā does Ā not Ā have Ā to Ā worry Ā about Ā her . Ā Ā but Ā his Ā presence Ā is Ā warming , Ā makes Ā her Ā feel Ā like Ā sheās Ā not Ā all Ā alone Ā in Ā this Ā messed Ā up Ā place , Ā so Ā the Ā corners Ā of Ā her Ā lips Ā tug Ā upwards Ā to Ā a Ā soft Ā smile . Ā Ā ā Ā Ā ššš¢ ,Ā Ā ššššĀ ššĀ šš .Ā Ā Ā šššššššĀ ššĀ šššššššššĀ ššššĀ ššššš¢ ? Ā Ā ā Ā Ā canāt Ā even Ā remember Ā the Ā last Ā time Ā she Ā ate ,Ā Ā notĀ likeĀ sheĀ evenĀ registersĀ theĀ tasteĀ ofĀ anything ,Ā Ā butĀ mightĀ asĀ wellĀ pretend .Ā Ā Ā āā Ā Ā @hintofdevil
