We all lost someone

-We were waiting for you-

Morgan and little Duane are setting out the silverware to eat. Plates, forks, cups. The wooden table has no tablecloth.

The house is dark, there are only a few round dim candles that illuminate the table and other places further afield.

The windows are blocked with wooden planks, curtains, and some brown boxes without labels.

-This was my neighbors' house, by the way I'm Rick Grimes- (Rick)

-There was no one when we got here, just like the other houses. We only take what we need, we do not break or damage property. And I'm Morgan Jones, he's my son Duane Jones- (Morgan)

-Hey boy, get away from the window, the Walkers can see the light- (Morgan)

Daniel moved the black cloth over the windows just a little to look outside, but he pulled away.

-I shouldn't have fired my gun, the Walkers are attracted to the noise, now they're all over the street. I'm an idiot-

Morgan sighs as she remembers firing his gun to kill one of those monsters, when he could silently stab him in the back as Daniel sits at the table.

-You shot that man-

Rick has Morgan on tape exploding Walker's brain with his gun.

-Man? That was a monster -

Little Duane replies. His face is puzzled because he had seen many of those monsters eat people, they are no longer living beings. He is surprised that this gentleman named Rick does not understand.

-What are you talking about? You never saw one? -

Morgan was puzzled by how Rick thinks these monsters are human.

-Rick, remember that I explained it to you, they are not sick people, they are zombies hungry for your flesh. They won't stop until they kill you-

Daniel wonders if Rick didn't hear anything he said before or is he just an idiot, although he is also an idiot for coming down the streets at this time of night with so many Walkers. Although in reality, that allowed him to understand that those creatures are definitely not human.

-Listen to the boy who is very right, now sit down before you fall and eat something of what he prepares -

Morgan doesn't want to argue about something like that, so he serves the prepared food in a small pot to Daniel and then to a Rick who is holding onto the chair. Although they woke up at the same time, it seems that Daniel's young and vibrant body is showing a faster recovery.

The food was long noodles with sauce and a few pieces of meat.

-Water for cooking and drinking… - (Daniel)

-It is bottled water, if that is what worries you, I would not risk drinking contaminated water. But this house still has some water, you can use the bathroom sink, but don't take a bath or waste water. - (Morgan)

Now Daniel alleviate his worries, also the food is in a pot and the water is in a glass jug so if they try to drug them they should not eat.

-Dad, the blessings-

Little Duane speaks and Daniel stops, he forgot to pray, he always did it with his grandmother but he felt that years ago he did not.

-It's true- (Morgan to Duane)

They both hold hands and extend them to Daniel and Rick. Daniel grabs Morgan's hand and Duane reaches for Rick.

Rick is a bit puzzled, he didn't do this. But still he grabbed little Duane and Daniel's hand.

Everyone closes their eyes and Morgan makes the blessing.

Morgan and little Duane eat and drink water.

When finished, Daniel grabs the fork again and devours the food without any manners when he sees that the food was good.

Duane looks at Daniel and laughs a little, he no longer finds him as scary as he a while ago.

"Do you have any idea what's going on out there?"

Morgan was very curious about their answers, he did not understand how both seemed to be strangers in what happened in recent times, although the boy seemed to face it more easily like his son Duane, perhaps it is true that young minds have more open minds.

Daniel was eating with gusto, like it was a five-star meal and not noodles with sauce. He left the floor to Rick who didn't seem to have much of an appetite.

-We really have no idea, we woke up today in the hospital. Everything was already like this, although Daniel told me what zombies are, I cannot find logic to this-

Rick speaks confused by the situation.

-Well, you should do it, those things, I mean the ones that are alive and move, like the one you saw me kill, if they come near you, they will devour your flesh and turn you into one of them. That is not something you want to see-

Morgan speaks in a deep voice, squinting at both of them. Daniel stops eating.

-Are they dangerous at night? - (Daniel)

-If it is more dangerous due to poor visibility, the shot is also heard louder, so there are more people on the street than usual. But we'll be fine, they'll probably leave in the morning- (Morgan)

-...-

Nobody says anything, they know it's just a possibility.

-But I'm sure of one thing, if they bite or scratch you, you become one of them. If the wound is serious, you die, but if it is slight, you have a very high fever and then you convert. That's why I kept your friend detained, although when I changed the bandage I realized that it was only a closed wound with only the scar-

Morgan explains the reasons for him, he didn't want to tie Rick up for fun.

-I saw how it happened-

Little Duane tells Rick that he still can't quite believe it.

-Quiet-

Morgan pats his son's head. Little Duane remembers a traumatic event, his father comforts him.

They finish eating dessert, which is a very tasty apple pie and Daniel remembers something.

-They don't care if we take clothes, right, you need them- (Daniel)

-It does not matter, in the same way it is not our clothes- (Morgan)

-Let's go-

Daniel takes Rick to the second floor and they enter what Daniel thinks is the matrimonial room.

-You can change here, I'll wait for you downstairs-

Daniel leaves Rick alone and a cup with the candle inside that lights the way, he enters the girl's room, where he enters this house first.

Her backpack is in the same place, Daniel bends down a little and grabs it, her hair falls out and covers in her eyes.

-I wish I had scissors, I don't like having hair that long-

Daniel combs his fingers in frustration. He takes a candy bar out of his backpack and shoves it into the only free pocket on his jacket.

Then Daniel enters the bathroom, leaves his backpack outside the door.

He sets the cup with the candle on the closed lid of the bathroom and looks inside the mirror. There are no medications inside, just shaving creams and sun moisturizers.

Daniel finds a simple black hair tie and grabs it, gets his hair a little wet, and ties it back into a little ponytail.

Now his slightly handsome face was better with his silky black hair arranged. Daniel smiles in front of the mirror as he looks into his light brown eyes, now he feels more comfortable. But he wonders when his beard will grow, since they don't have even a shadow of a beard.

Daniel comes down the stairs with his backpack on his back and the candle lit in the middle.

-I was wondering where you came in since we closed all the doors and windows, so you did it through a window-

Morgan was hugging her son as he leaned against the wall on a mattress in the living room.

-Well, I don't think they would let me pass if I rang the bell-

Daniel shows Morgan a smile.

-You're right, but now that I see your face better, you're younger than I thought- (Morgan)

-How old did you think I was and how old do you think I am? - (Daniel)

-Paresias 24-26 years old, but now you look like 20 years old- (Morgan)

-Close but no, I'm 17 years old, it's just that I grew up better than my classmates, some neighbors even believe that I was about to finish university instead of starting it- (Daniel)

-Well that doesn't seem strange, but it's better to have a strong body in these times of crisis, although you don't seem like much (Morgan)

-What did you say old man? Do you want me to break your fragile and delicate bones or do I have to bring a respirator first? (Daniel)

-Don't fight! - (Little Duane)

-No son, calm down, we're just kidding, nobody is going to fight here, right Daniel? - (Morgan)

-Yes, your father is right, we are not going to fight. And also, I have brought this for you.-

Daniel removes the candy bar from his jacket and hands it to little Duane.

"A Wonka chocolate bar! I thought they were out of stock! How did you get them?"

Little Duane was excited as he grabbed the chocolate and let Daniel pat his head, he wanted these chocolates but his parents sadly told him that they were already exhausted.

-I only exchanged them for those who bought the chocolates for a little more money-

Actually Daniel paid an employee of the company that was reserved for him.

-Son, what should you say first? -

Morgan smiles when he sees his son happy with him, for a few days he no longer smiles.

-Thank you Mr. Daniel-

Little Duane thanks Daniel and lies down on the bed.

-Hey Morgan, when did all this start? - (Daniel)

Morgan doesn't mind Daniel calling him by his name because he felt more comfortable that way.

In the West calling oneself by name as soon as you know each other is normal, the intimate thing is to call it by a nickname. Only in the East or some religions in particular should be called by the surname strictly until the other accepts them as someone close.

-If you ask me that, I would say that it started about two months ago, reports on the internet about people dying and then resuscitating, biting others and so on, I couldn't believe it, but there was the proof. On television, radio or any other medium, be it the government or any organization, no one reported this. But I saw with my own eyes how those monsters revived and ate people. Unless you shoot them in the head they kept getting up, I did what I could to protect my family and now we are here- (Morgan)

-Things got difficult huh, you have done well Morgan, not many can say the same, unfortunately- (Daniel)

"So? How do I look?"

Rick comes downstairs wearing black pants, a white T-shirt, shoes, and a business suit.

-You look like a businessman, who would think you are a policeman. But I recommend that you take off your suit, it will be uncomfortable to make strong movements with that on -

Daniel makes a little joke. Rick looks funny in that business suit.

-It was the only thing there was, at least it's better than walking around town in a hospital gown-

Rick smiles wryly. He doesn't want to steal, but right now he needs the clothes, he hopes his neighbors will forgive him. Rick still has a lot of righteousness, but his neighbors may already be dead or walking the streets looking for fresh meat.

At that moment the doorknob turns, someone tries to open the door.

-Do not go-

Morgan warns them but Daniel already had his eye on the door peephole. What he sees surprises him and he widens his eyes.

A Walker was in front of the door trying to open it and not to break it, that is much scarier than a simple Walker without thoughts. Daniel walks away from the door slowly. Rick looks through the peephole after him.

-Some Walkers keep small memories of what they did before, such as opening doors, cars or climbing-

Little Duane was crying in his father's arms, and Morgan tells Daniel, easing his concern that smart zombies exist, that would be a nightmare three times the size he is now.

-Why cry?-

Daniel comes over and strokes little Duane's back.

-That Walker you saw was my wife and her mother. We were driving to Atlanta but she was bitten and we stopped, as I told you, first they have a fever that burns her skin if you touch her and then they transform. But I couldn't finish her, my hands and her heart were shaking. So I released her out of her and let her walk around the neighborhood, now she comes back every day to haunt us-

Morgan wipes her tears, his voice shakes. It seems that he is more affected than his son.

-I understand, when I lost my grandmother I felt that I was about to fall into a bottomless and very dark abyss from which I could not, but a girl saved me from falling into it. I think for you, she is the person who saved you is your son- (Daniel)

You're right, if it wasn't my little one, I would have wanted to accompany my wife- (Morgan)

-Dad don't leave me too- (Duane)

-Quiet son, I'm not going to leave you, we'll be together forever, okay? I love you-

Morgan hugs little Duane tightly with a few tears in his eyes.

Daniel remains silent, he understands the feeling of losing his precious family, twice, it is something that hurts your soul. He burns you inside but you can't put it out.

But the weight that the deaths of his parents and his grandmother left on Daniel is heavy, and he still can't let go of them, he doesn't want to ...

The mental burden, unless you really want to, you cannot release it and it will always be with you. That is a weight Daniel is willing to bear. He will never forget them, the sacrifice they made for him, the joy, sadness, support and others that they gave him, all those memories that weigh on him he will keep them and that is what will help him continue, regardless of adversity.

-Daniel ... -

Daniel was about to go upstairs but Rick suddenly calls out to him.

-I know this is difficult and I don't understand it because I don't know if my family is still alive, but I trust they are. But you have to continue living, if you don't want to do it for yourself or for me, do it for your parents, for your grandmother, who now watch you from above and take care of you, wishing you the best so that you live happily- (Daniel)

-Don't you dare use my family's name! -

Daniel got angry, grabs Rick by the collar of his clothes and lifts him up a bit, with what little strength he recovered, Rick weakly moves but shows no resistance despite the fact that the air is running out.

-You can hit me and unload your frustration on me if you wish, but live, live so that tomorrow you will thank me for being alive when you find and form a family, have children and love them more than anything in the world- (Rick )

-...-

Daniel slowly lost his anger at Rick's words, he slowly released him and he began to cough softly.

-I have a favor to ask you-

Daniel turns around and speaks with his back facing Rick.

-Ask me what you want, I will always help you even if you don't ask me-

Rick scratches his neck in pain and with a few tears in his eyes, but still he helps Daniel without hesitation.

-I want to bury my grandmother in the yard, tomorrow morning we will go- (Daniel)

-Thanks Rick, for everything, I'm glad I woke up with you and not alone.

Daniel stops for a moment to thank her and then continues up the stairs.

Rick looks at his back, which although it is large, is just the back of a 17-year-old teenager whose parents and grandmother died, now without a family and without knowing what life awaits him, lost in this new world.

Daniel climbs the stairs, enters the girl's room, leaves his backpack near the bed and goes out the window. He sits on the roof outside the window, opens his jacket pocket, grabs her music player. He wears headphones while listening to This Is The Time by Queen and gazing at the stars, that calms him from what he is experiencing now, at least for a moment while he remembers happy moments with his loved ones.

...