The world had ended in fire and dust.
Whole cities were destroyed along with their suffering inhabitants. It was difficult to find forest to inhale fresh air, or it was hardly possible to come across any trace of clear water.Despite so little hope, for little Clementine and her dear mother, Diana, life still clung stubbornly.
They had survived another night, huddled behind the wreckage of an old truck while howlers prowled the ash-strewn streets.
Now, dawn was rising over the scorched horizon, painting the sky a soft orange that made the girl think of a better future. She looked in the distance and smiled at her thoughts.
She looked back at her mother cheerfully, then spoke, “We made it, Mom…. We actually made it!”, she laughed.
The woman smiled softly and replied, “Yeah, dear. We did.”
Clementine leaned forward to hug her mother, but as she did, Diana flinched.
“Mom…?”, she asked hesitantly.
The girl noticed something was off right away. She pulled back only to notice the red stain on the clothes.
“Mom…! Is it your blood? Did you get hurt?” her voice cracked.
Diana spoke quietly, “It’s alright. Just a few scratches here and there. It’s not too bad.”
“What?!” Clem exclaimed, “A few scratches? Are you kidding me?! Mom… your shirt is all red… Oh god”
The girl took off her jacket and started wrapping it around her mother’s stomach, while tears were pricking in the corner of her eyes.
“I’ll try to help… Why didn’t you tell me?”, the girl asked.
Diana looked into her daughter's eyes, thinking about what to say next.
“I didn’t want you to worry, baby… You were so brave and happy when we got those sick creatures. I’m so proud of you. You need to keep going.”
Clem frowned.
“What do you mean by that?”
“You grew up so fast, love. Now you know how to protect yourself. You’ve got so much power. It’s time for you to continue this journey without me”, the woman replied gently.
The girl started panicking.
“No! No, don’t you dare to leave me alone! You’re going to be fine. We will find the medicine, we will—”
Diana shook her head.
“Listen to me, baby. I feel like I won’t last long now. You’re going to keep surviving. That’s what matters. With or without me, you’re capable of anything.”
The girl, despite trying to stay confident for her mother, couldn’t help the tears pricking in her eyes. Her words were emotional and urgent.
“No! I don’t want to be strong! Not without you. Please, Mom… Stay with me. Don’t leave me. Please…”
The exhausted mother raised a trembling hand to cup her daughter’s cheek. Her fingers were cold, but the smile showed the warmth she always had. Her watery eyes reflected her poor child, who was so desperate at that moment.
“Don’t waste your energy on me. I know you will always carry me in your heart, while I watch you from above. Stay alive for me and always follow your path.
I love you, my little sunrise…”
Her hand got weaker, slowly falling.
Clementine grabbed it quickly, holding it against her face as if it was her last leap of hope in this cruel world.
“Mom?", she trembled as she spoke, “Mommy… please”
Hot tears were streaming down her face. The girl embraced the only person she could rely on. It felt the same as always, except the quietness and coldness, untypical for her dear mother.
As she buried herself in her mother’s neck, she whispered “I love you too… I love you so so much… please, just stay for a bit longer…”
But there was no answer.
Dead silence - except for the occasional sobs of a girl, once again a lost child, who stayed without parent to come back to.
The little figure was holding on to the limp and steady body as the world behind them came back to life with the first rays of sun.
It took a long time for Clem to calm down. The tears had dried, leaving only puffy eyes.
She looked in the distance for the second time that day.
“The sunrise…”, she whispered.
That’s what her mother used to call her. She chuckled through the pain.
This sunrise promised her the future once again.
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