I looked past the seemingly infinite amount of people in line for a spot at The Starlight Inn. Ever since Diamond City was hit with a massive wave of deathclaws and wiped off the map entirely, The Starlight Inn was the next obvious choice. While nothing could beat Diamond City's security, The Inn was a close second in terms of reliability and firepower. I heard turrets whizzing back and forth all around me. Several guards walked the length of the huge line of people. My father laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder and muttered something to himself before leaning down to my ear and telling me everything was going to be okay. I nodded absentmindedly, thinking about what the inside of The Starlight Inn looked like. I had heard from multiple caravans passing through my old town of Sanctuary that The Inn was almost as impressive as Diamond City. Of course, no one seemed to take advantage of this open opportunity, including my parents, until the last minute.

When Diamond City was still around, everyone who was in need of a bed flocked there. The only reason my parents didn't was because the walk was too long for me, and they couldn't get a caravan to take us along with them. When Diamond City was destroyed, The Starlight Inn made its availability known across the Commonwealth, and my parents decided now was a good time as ever to move to a safer, more reliable town.

Unfortunately, everyone else seemed to share the same thoughts.

I let my thoughts wander to the girl in front of me. She couldn't have been much older than me, and she had long, dirty blonde hair that went past the middle of her back. She wore a simple dress made of plaid fabric, probably something her parents had picked up along the way. I looked down at my own attire: a torn leather jacket, a dirty white shirt and jeans. I pursed my lips, realizing I probably looked like one of those infamous Tunnel Snakes from Vault 101 everybody seemed to tell their kids about nowadays. I ran a hand through my unwashed hair, wondering if I should speak up and say something to the girl. It's always better knowing your neighbors. Besides, I needed someone I could trust aside from my parents. I had no idea how things were going to pan out in The Inn, and I needed to prepare for the worst. Having someone at my back couldn't hurt.

I let out a short cough. The girl didn't turn around. I narrowed my eyes, wondering if she was going to be one of those "difficult women" my father always told me about. I mulled it over again in my head. Maybe I didn't need to know anyone right off the bat. Maybe it was better if I let myself get settled in for a few days before socializing. I nodded to myself and allowed that to overcome my unbearable desires to know who this girl was.

After 20 minutes of watching people get denied at the gate and finding some way to amuse myself with the passing guards, I finally tapped the girl's shoulder.

She turned to look at me. Her face was, without question, dirty. Everyone's was. The Commonwealth was a disgusting place. Then again, it's not like a post-nuclear warzone has its own personal janitors. She had a slightly rounded face and a small nose. Her hands carried a grimy teddy bear with an arm, ear, and button eye missing.

But the first thing that came to my attention were her eyes. She turned around, I caught sight of her deep brown eyes and couldn't pull myself away from the cesspool of traumatic stories that were held in them. I instantly saw regret, guilt, and fear. I saw a lifetime of abuse, from both her parents and raiders. I saw day after day of trekking through the Commonwealth.

Most of all, I saw pain.

I saw a young girl whose life was instantly ripped away when she was given birth in this horrid world we call home. I saw a girl who was raised on charred bloatfly meat, dirty water, and pipe pistols. I saw a girl who was used to sleeping on splintered pieces of wood, wondering if she was ever going to wake up the next day. I saw a girl who went to bed hungry; who went to bed afraid because her father wouldn't guarantee protection from raiders.

I saw a girl who had been utterly destroyed by the Commonwealth.

I stared into her eyes for a few moments before shaking myself out of my trance and outstretching my hand. "Hello," I sputtered out, overcome by her seemingly complex backstory. "I'm Walton. It's nice to meet you."

She looked down at my hand, then back up to me. Finally, she gave a sad smile and shook my hand. "Hello, Walton," her hand immediately went back to gripping her teddy bear. "I'm Ashlyn. But you can call me Ash." Her smile widened a bit.

I smiled back. "Well, it's... it's - uh - nice to meet you. I hope we live close by each other."

"Yes..." her eyes darted to the ground. "That would be nice."

I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant before a guard called out, "Families with children only, please! Families with children only! We advise those without children to head to Sanctuary. I repeat, families with children only!"

I knew what was happening. They were running out of beds. Many people groaned and reluctantly stepped out of line. One man refused, and the guards were forced to drag him away. Everyone else remaining in line stepped forward to the gate. I looked up at my father.

We were in the final stretch.