While I was bandaging Oliver, I asked him about what had happened. The boy's version was not much different from Linda's version. Only less emotional.

"And who taught you to drive, tell me?" I tried to distract him so it wouldn't hurt so much.

"Robbie. My friend. There were five of us. When it all started. He was older. He was almost 18. We were from the same neighborhood. By the way. Are we not taking our car?"

I shook my head negatively.

"This is very bad. It was Robbie's car. The memory of him."

"The memory is in your head, it's just a thing," I stroked his head.

"Yes, you're right. Thank you." He nodded over his shoulder at me.

Otto came up to us.

"I'm Troy," he held out his hand to the boy.

"Oliver," he shook Troy's hand and smiled, "thank you for helping me."

Troy nodded.

"Dell, I've heated the water, you can wash up. If you need any help, call me."

I calling Linda with him, offered to take a shower a little further away from the "camp". Troy and I bought some shampoo at the shop.

Linda poured water on my hair, helping to wash off the shampoo. It was unpleasant, but better than nothing. The shower was something I still couldn't do without. I needed him every day. After I washed,I helped linda do the same thing. Oliver and Troy were talking about something in the back of the truck. We decided not to bother them.

When we were coming back from the shower, Linda asked:

"How long have you and Troy been together?"

"I met him after all this happened."

"He really loves you."

"How do you know that?"

"I've seen the way he looks at you..."

"And how?"

"It's like there's nothing else around. He's a good man. You chose him for a reason."

"Yes, he's really good."

"And very beautiful man! You too, by the way." She smiled.

"Thanks... but I met him when he wanted to kill me," I smiled, remembering how I met Troy. At that time I didn't understand what would come of it.

"Tell me more about it, it's interesting!"

I told the story of how Troy and I met.

At the end story, we were just getting back to our camp.

"What are you two chatting about?" asked Troy, hauling the last gas can into our car.

"Della told me about how you two met."

"Yeah, it was an interesting meeting. As soon as she took the rifle from me and turned around, I knew it was fate!"

"Don't lie, you were gonna shoot me!"

"No! I knew right away I wanted to be with you as soon as I looked into your eyes!"

We all laughed.

"What are we going to do in Canada?" asked Linda suddenly.

I wondered. It was a good question. What do we do when we get there?

"We'll find a suitable house and all live together," Troy suddenly answered, "Della will teach you how to cook, I'll help Oliver learn hunting. We'll be a family."

"Are you serious about this?" Oliver looked at Troy hopefully.

"Of course. I realize we can't replace your parents, and you're not exactly kids anymore, but we can be a real family."

 "Oliver had a family. I haven't... I was in and out of foster homes... All my life," Linda said, rushing over to hug Troy and me. He hugged her back. I stood there in a bit of a stupor. Yes, I knew in my heart that this was the only option, that this was the way it was supposed to be, but for some reason it was only now that the realization came to me: Troy and I were no longer alone. There's four of us. And we can't break up now. Then we'd have to leave not only each other, but Linda and Oliver as well. At least one of us. Troy didn't seem daunted by this responsibility at all. He was excited. And it's not that I was scared. No, I just realized it wasn't going to be as easy as it seemed until it was voiced. Sometimes, to realize the importance of an idea, you have to say it out loud...

After we finished discussing the plans, we went to the campfire. Troy made tea for everyone. I got some leftover supplies and soon we were eating breakfast, chatting and joking.

After the meal, the guys went to the lake to wash their hands, and Troy and I got ready to hit the road. Almost everything was already ready, we were just rearranging some things in the trunk to be more comfortable. So the gasoline would stand firm and the canisters wouldn't jiggle.

"You think it's going to be like this?" I broke the silence.

"You mean what I said to Oliver? What's your skepticism?" Troy asked calmly, slamming the trunk shut.

"I just can't believe this is going to work out."

"Della, I promise it will work out."

I shrugged.

"I hope so."

"I know, Dell, you're afraid of the responsibility for these kids. You think we can't help ourselves, and here we are giving them hope. You don't think we're the best option for them. Yes?"

I nodded, resting my shoulder against the car.

"Trust me, we're their salvation. You convinced me of that yesterday. Yes, and we'll only be brought closer together by this responsibility. I'm glad we found them yesterday, honestly, and...."

Suddenly, Troy pushed me aside. A walker came from somewhere behind me. He killed it, but more were coming. I wanted to grab my knife, but Otto told me in a commanding tone:

"There's too many of them, call the kids and start the car, I'll hold them off!"

I didn't argue. There were indeed a lot of dead people. More than a dozen. It was like someone had led them to us

I ran to Linda and Oliver. They reacted quickly and were in the car in seconds. I, after killing one walker jumped into the driver's seat and started the car. Troy killed one after another until I yelled to him that it's time to leave. Just then another figure appeared from behind a tree. At first I thought it was a walker again, but then a shot rang out.....

My throat went dry. I grabbed my gun and ran out of the car, pointing it at the hooded man.

"Who are you?!"

"Did you steal my gas, you little bastards?!"

He still had his sights on Troy, who stood with his hands up. He hasn't been hit yet.

"Give me the canisters back or I'll shoot him!"

"Maybe you didn't notice, but she's got a gun too, asshole!" yelled Troy.

"Give me mine back! I'm counting to three!"

He yelled so loud it made my ears ring.

I was sure he wasn't gonna shoot Troy. Why would I think that?! He shot Oliver. My confidence was naive. On the count of three, bullet hit Troy. I pulled the trigger. I only had two bullets. Only two shots. Only two shots at the Black Hood's head, then I rushed toward Troy, not even watching as the victim of our robbery fell to the ground....

Troy was lying there, too. He was wheezing. The bullet had hit him in his left side.

I pulled up my shirt. The blood kept pouring. My palms turned red in a second. The kids got out of the car.

"First aid kit, quick!" I heard my voice as if from far away.

Troy grabbed my hand and said, wheezing:

"I love you so much."

He was struggling to say the words. He was bleeding. I screamed.

"No, don't you dare! Don't you dare say goodbye! I need you so badly! I can't do anything without you!"

I kept saying the same thing, and he smiled slightly to reassure me.

Linda handed me a first aid kit. I put pressure on the wound. Oliver stood next to me.

"Feel the back! Is there a bullet exit!"

I already knew there wasn't. Linda confirmed my fears. I asked her to apply pressure on Troy's side, while I took Otto's head and, soiled his cheeks in his own blood, I spoke:

"Troy, my hand is harder than a jeweler's, I'll get the bullet out! Just be patient."

He nodded, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Talk to him! Anything to keep him from passing out!"

I doused the wound with antiseptic. The only alcohol we had. I'll have to pick up a drink from the shop when I get a chance. The chatter of the boys passed my ears. I could hear their voices like I was wearing earplugs or underwater. The thought of losing Troy was driving me crazy.

Taking the tweezers out of my little tweezers, I doused him too.

"This is going to hurt a lot."

He clamped the shirt cloth between his teeth. I stuck the tweezers inside the wound. Troy howled. There was no way I could feel the bullet. Digging into the wound, I prayed I'd get it sooner. And I think I had it. Just a little bit more. Slowly, I started to pull it out. Almost. Almost. And there it was. My hands started shaking as soon as the balloon was in the air. I cried with joy. Troy screamed in pain.

"That's it! The worst is over. Just a little longer. Just a little longer."

After washing the wound with boiling water and pouring the rest of the antiseptic on it, I began to bandage Troy with the bits. His breathing gradually levelled out. The tight bandage around his lower back was almost ready. I found the pills I'd given Oliver yesterday in the medicine cabinet. Placing a handful of the six white circles in my bloody, shaking palm, I looked at Troy. He was very pale, but he was forcing out a smile. I wanted to cry even more at the sight of him. What if he was going to die anyway?

"Swallow!" I shoved the pills into his mouth and poured water over them.

When he swallowed, he exhaled and gritted his teeth, still wheezing:

"Lucky you wandered onto the ranch then.... Where I'd be if it wasn't for you. Hey!" he noticed I was startled, "You're not getting rid of me that easy!" he smiled "one bullet isn't enough to kill an asshole like me!" 

His cheeks were covered in my bloody fingerprints. Linda put away the first aid kit.

"Maybe we should put him in the back seat?" she asked.

"No. We'll have to stay for a while."

"No!" Troy shook his head: "We have to go. We have no way to get food here. There aren't even any animals here."

"I'm going to get some food. I'll find something."

"It is excluded. I won't let you go alone!" He coughed after saying that. It was impossible to go. He's too weak for the road.

"There is no choice. I will go. Stay here."

"I said..." Troy coughed the words. "I said no!"

"Troy, no options. I will soon."

Not listening to his dissatisfaction anymore, I began to pull the gasoline out of the trunk so as not to shake it once again. Leaving one canister, I got behind the wheel and started the car.

"Della!" Otto croaked aggressively, but be barely audible.

I reluctantly got out of the car.

"Della, I'm asking you, don't leave alone!"

"Troy, don't be afraid, you'll be fine. If you feel worse, Linda will give you pills, I'll tell her..."

"I'm not afraid for myself!" Нe started to get up. I ran to put him back on the ground.

"Don't you dare get up! You can't disturb the wound!"

"I'm scared that something will happen to you! Let Linda go with you!"

"No, she's needed here. Oliver is weak, he won't be able to cope if walkers or someone else comes... You can't either."

"I can handle the road! Let's go!"

"No, Troy. You need to rest. You can't go. Trust me for once!"

Calling Linda over, I explained to her what pills to give if he got worse. She nodded.

Troy squeezed my hand in his and said in my ear:

"Come back quickly, please!"

I nodded and kissed him on the cheek and got back into the car. The iron taste of blood remained on my lips...