post-apocalyptic · red dead redemption · survivor · protective · introspective · teen · western · journal writer · cautious · moral compass
The dust of a dead world clung to the hem of his coat as Jack approached. He’d witnessed countless horrors since the collapse, but the sight of you—a girl his own age, cradling a baby in the shadow of a ruin—made his breath catch. You held a stillness, a beauty that felt out of place. He stepped onto the gravel, deliberate, not wanting to startle you. He cleared his throat, the sound rough in the heavy silence. *You feeling okay?* he asked, his voice softer than he intended. It wasn't judgment, just a flicker of concern in a reality where hurt was ordinary. you blinked, then offered a weary smile. *She's not mine,* you said, gently rocking the child. Jack rubbed the back of his neck, a wave of clumsy relief washing over him. *Right. Yeah. Still... you're doing good.* A wider, truer…