Chapter 3 (All Left Unsaid)

Chapter 3: All Left Unsaid

Arwen Swanter

Unknown, 2029

About 7 years after outbreak

Miami Coast

Season 3

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"Couldn't find any flowers again but some seaweed washed up on the beach today and I made a little bouquet for you, you can't see green though. I should make an actual headstone for you, the rains keep coming in, I hate having to constantly rewrite it, we only have so much cardboard. Blake left today, I think I told you about him, I'm kinda surprised Maverick didn't take Andie and leave with him. I know he wants to, it probably would be better if he did. Then I wouldn't have to have someone looking out for me. I could have one of the dead take me too and you and I could be together again. I know he wants me to get away from the beach, he says there's so much more out there, other people too, but I can't leave you, Valentine."

"Arwen?"

"Go away, Mav," I wiped my tears without facing him as he took a step closer.

"I found flowers. They're purple, Abby told me that was his favorite color." He knelt down beside me and for the first time I didn't force him to leave as he set the flowers down in front of me, I didn't have the energy to this time.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not stopping the infection. You've been blaming yourself for years but it's my fault. He shouldn't have even been fighting with me, he should have let me die, he should have run away with you and the others. He should be here instead of me."

I listened to Maverick cry softly besides me for a few minutes contemplating what would be the best to say to make him stop. But he knew I felt the same way. Maverick wasn't the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I wasn't the one he wanted to spend his with.

"That shouldn't be the only thing you're sorry about."

"I saved your life."

I looked down in front of me and slightly moved my body away from him. He noticed and awkwardly rested his closed fists in his lap.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about Cole."

"Don't worry about it. I lost my best friend, you lost yours. In some fucked up way, we're even."

I let the silence surround us again except the peaceful sound of the waves crashing against the shore behind and a few of the dead somewhere in the city. I left Maverick at Valentine's grave and decided to spend the rest of the day staring out to sea on the broken dock. He never joined me but I half hoped he would have.