"rory?"

"hm?"

"i love you."

they smiled and kissed me, "i love you too."

for the first time since everything happened, the streets were silent. the fires were out, and the smoke cleared. the rain washed the blood off the streets until it was all gone. i started to think that things might be able to go back to the way they were, but the outside world didn't matter to me anymore. i didn't want to leave, even if i could.

i had found solace in rory's arms, and the thought of venturing back into a world that had brought us so much pain seemed unbearable. in that moment, all i needed was the love we shared, and everything else faded into insignificance.

but no matter how hard i wanted it to, it was never meant to last forever. rory sat by the window as i made them coffee in the kitchen. they pretended to laugh at my stupid jokes as they drew a picture but refused to let me see it. the sunlight shone perfectly on their face. they were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. i loved them more than i ever thought i would.

the sound of the gunshot rang in my head. shattering the peaceful morning. rory's body slumped to the floor, blood pooling around them from the hole in their heads. their eyes were wide open and lifeless, staring blankly and almost directly at me. i froze in shock, unable to comprehend the horrifying scene unfolding before me. time seemed to stand still as panic and disbelief washed over me.

"rory?" i called out, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. but there was no response, only a deafening silence that echoed through the room. my heart sank as i stared at the window, the sunlight still beaming through. I waited for another bullet, but it never came. I waited there until night came, rory's body at my feet, but still, nothing.

i stood up slowly from their chair, walked to the bathroom, and opened the medicine cabinet that had become so dear to me. inside, i found a bottle of pills that i had been avoiding for far too long. with a single tear rolling down my face and the same look of shock as i watched myself in the tiny mirror,

i didn't hesitate.

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the end.