Ellis had just escaped the inescapable. The horde had gotten everyone, even the escape artist Nick, except for Ellis. In fact, Nick was the one who saved him. Talk about a change of heart. A month ago, Nick would have left him for dead. Now, Nick died a hero to save his best friend.
Ellis felt like this should have been the other way around.
While he was thinking this, a figure sprinted towards him and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Oh thank God. I thought that I had lost you." Zoey whispered into Ellis' ear while squeezing tighter.
Any other time, Ellis would have been ecstatic. But this was different. Ellis was different.
He said nothing as she held on for a few more moments before letting him go.
He whispered, "I can't…"
She looked at him with a puzzled look as she whispered back, "Can't what?"
Ellis sighed before he answered, "I don't deserve the happy ending. My survival is because my best friend died. You are my happy ending. I don't deserve you."
Once he said that, he began to slowly walk away with his head down in shame. Zoey knew not to chase after him, after all, she knew what it felt like. She had the same guilt when Bill died in her place. It was a long road to self-forgiveness, even though she wasn't even done yet.
But she knew not to give up on Ellis.
Because, if she could do it, the man with the heart of gold could overcome it. He needed patience and time.
And at the end of a zombie apocalypse, those were things that the survivors had a large amount of and that Zoey learned to appreciate.