The Fallen

Sunset

       Their friendship blossomed even more with time. They would sneak out every day to the woods and look at the sunset together. They would share their secrets under the night sky and chuckle all the time. They enjoyed running around in fields and pick up flowers for their homes. Sometimes they would tease each other, other times they would have small debates. They always seemed happy to be spending time together away from everyone.

         Teddy was wearing his green t-shirt and Jodie was wearing a blue shirt over her black t-shirt. They climbed up a tree and sat at the branches. The sun was about to set once again, they could clearly see it from up there. They stared at it for a while, until the sun had completely disappeared. There was silence for a while, when Jodie slightly tapped his shoulder.

''What is it?'' Teddy asked.

''I know your secret'' Jodie answered him.

''Of course you do dummy. I tell you everything. Even things I haven't told Will and he's my best friend''.

''No. I mean like something we haven't really talked about''.

''Like?''.

''You like Martha, right?'' Jodie asked him.

''Oh sure...she's cute and pretty...''.

''I remember when you first saw her and you kept shaking her hand like forever''.

''Right...''.

''What happened my dear half?'' Jodie looked at him.

''Do you like Will?'' Teddy asked her.

''Hmm... Teddy, the only thing I have eyes for right now is my goal. That man. I want to execute him and be set free from this''.

''Sure, I know but like...you've never thought of Will? Not even once?'' he asked her.

''I have. But I don't plan to stay you know''.

''What do you mean?''. She smiled at the ground.

''I'm leaving Teddy. Once I'm done. I...I've had such a good time here with you and Will too, but I don't plan to stay any longer''.

''What will you do? Where will you go?'' he asked her.

''I'm going away...far away...''.

''Alone?''.

''Yes. That was my goal from the start. That's what I learned while living with Tommy. That's what I was taught. I have to take my leave and figure things out on my own''.

''No, don't say that! How do you plan to live on your own? Away from everyone? This is bullshit! What if they attack you? Walkers? Hunters?''.

''Then may my death be quick and painless''.

''What are you-''.

''Teddy...my revenge is what I'm fighting for right now. I see nothing else in front of me besides that. When I'm done with it and if I make it, I'll just wander aimlessly, I won't have a reason to live. So I'll just wander until I die. I want things to end like that, 'cause as I've told you, that's what I was made for''.

''I don't have a reason to live. Are you telling me to go die?'' Teddy asked intensely.

''This is not about you. You have your friends, your crush, your community to support you, you have your peace in mind. I don't have friends here, I don't have a place to call home if I'm not with Him. I can promise you that I'll look for him and if I find him, then he shall end me so that I can find my peace''.

''Stop saying things like that! You have me and Will! You don't need anything else! Fuck your idea of home or Tommy or your revenge. And if Will can't make you see that, then fall in love with me!''.

''Teddy!'' Jodie yelled blushed and surprised. ''What are you-''.

''I said it. I'm your best friend, I know everything about you and it hurts me that you think this way. I don't want to lose you to your revenge or anyone else. Just stay here. With me''.

''Teddy, I-''.

''I know that you like Will even if you don't admit it'' he interrupted her. ''But don't tell me you'll leave like that. What would I do? I told you. I have no reason to live. I have no family, no friends, not anything. Just Will and you. And a bunch of bricks that make my house. That's all I have here''.

''Don't say that''.

''No! You don't understand. I feel useless. It's like I'm living the same fucking day every time I open my eyes in the morning. I don't have anyone to rely on, I don't have anyone to express my feelings to, I don't have anyone to understand me, I don't have anyone to hold me or tell me that things will be okay! The truth is that I'm so alone Jodie. I'm alone...and I'm so lonely it's killing me inside. Will has Tommy and his dad somewhere, he's important to the community. You have your revenge and you have Tommy too, what do I have? I'm completely alone for fuck sake...And- and the only thing that keeps me from blowing my fucking brains out is sneaking out every day with you and hanging out with Will so-...so don't give me all this shit cause I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted of everything Jodie...'' Teddy said while tearing up. Jodie grabbed him and hugged him tightly, while caressing his golden hair. They both cried in each other's arms in front of the bright pink and purple sky and the green trees of the forest.

''I'm sorry...'' Jodie said with her trembling voice. She hugged Teddy more tightly and told him that things will be okay with time. Teddy couldn't stop the tears falling down from his face, he felt secure in her arms and was happy to have heard these few words that no one else could ever tell him so far.

        Later that evening, they both returned home and Jodie walked Teddy to his house. When she returned home to Will, she saw him trying to fix the sink while smoking as usual. She broke down in tears and ran to Will to embrace him. Will was confused but he just hugged her back and kept her in his arms, trying to reassure her.