Chapter 3

"La-La-La-La-La..." I listen as Rosie sings a song behind me. It sounds loud, and has no melody or beat. She isn't even on pitch. Yet, hearing her sing makes me feel...happy.

"How can she be so optimistic? She saw her sister die less than an hour ago!"

"Is there an off switch somewhere on you?" I sigh, causing Rosie to giggle, "You've been singing for the past twenty minutes now!"

"I'm bored," Rosie laughs.

"Can't you find some other way to pass time?"

Rosie looks like she's deep in thought for a minute before she bursts out giggling again, "Nope."

I simply shake my head, "You could talk? Tell me where you were running off to when I found you," I say trying to keep Rosie occupied and quiet. You never know if anbody could be nearby. The quieter Rosie is the better.

"The last thing I need is to get attacked by some looters."

"Texas," Rosie answers without missing a beat.

"Why Texas? What's there?" I can't help but feel genuinely curious as to why Rosie wanted to go to Texas.

"I didn't want to go there, Rebecca did. She heard news that people like us are safe there; That the government wants to protect us."

When I looked at Rosie while she was talking, I noticed how hopeful she looked. She doesn't even know what's in Texas, but she's hoping that she'll finally be accepted again.

I shook my head, "Don't get your hopes up, Rosie. What if what Rebecca heard were rumors? You'll end up walking thousands of miles to get to Texas for nothing. It's better for us to just stay away from people. Besides, why would the government want to help us anyway?"

Rosie stomps her foot stubbornly, "It's their job to protect us!"

"It's not their job to protect us, Rosie. And even if it was, where are they when we need them most? I've been stuck out in the wilderness for nearly six months now. No one has ever helped me. Your father killed your sister, and tried to kill you. Where was the governent then, Rosie?" Rosie looks shocked, and I realize I basically screamed my entire rant. I take a deep breath, "Listen, Rosie. We need to look after ourselves now. Government can't be here to protect everyone all the time. From now on, we take care of ourselves."

Rosie bobs her head up and down, "So, you asked me questions. Now it's my turn!"

"What do you want to know?" I ask Rosie.

Rosie looks hesitantant for a second before she speaks, "How did you die?"

I felt myself stiffen, "I don't want to talk about that."

"It's only fair!" Rosie protests, but I keep walking through the forest, trying to drown out Rosie's voice with my own thoughts.

"You already know that the virus killed me, I deserve to know how you died!" Rosie shouted while running after me.

"I don't know how I died," I mumble quickly.

"What?" Rosie stares at me, "Speak louder, I couldn't hear you!"

"I. Don't. Know. How. I. Died," I manage to spit out through gritted teeth.

Rosie's mouth dropped open, "How could you not know!"

"I just don't ok! I know the basics: There was a fire, and gunshots, and I was sick...I just don't remember much of it," I nearly shout.

"Oh," Rosie murmmurs gently, "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. There's nothing to be sorry for. I shouldn't have exploded like that, it's just...there's some things I don't...I can't remember. It hurts too much," I explain.

"Can I ask another question?" Rosie asks.

I nod.

"OK!" Rosie smiles at me, "How old are you?"

"Fourteen," I answer. "I'll be fifteen in a month or two though."

I step carefully over a tree root, and duck under a couple of low hanging branches, "Next question?"

"What's your favorite color?"

"I don't know..." I take some time to think, "Maybe a soft looking pink, something light."

Rosie laughs behind me as she trips over a rock.

"What's so funny!" I demand.

"Nothing," Rosie tries to stifle her laughter. "It's just, you don't seem like the type to like the color pink. You remind me of some angry biker, I figured you'd like the color black or red."

"An angry biker...that's new."

"Are we almost at your camp yet," Rosie whines. "I think I hurt my foot, and there's a lot of bugs out here."

I feel my lips twitch upwards in a grin.

I've had literally no emotion these past few months. Then, I met Rosie and I feel alive again.

"You've known her for barely an hour, and you're treating her like she's family!"

I don't know what it is that draws me towards Rosie. I can't tell if it's her optimistic attitude, or her laid back personality. Maybe it's simply because she can still smile after all that she's lost...

"Why are you happy, Rosie?" I ask.

"Why not?" Rosie looks at me as if I've grown two heads.

"You've lost so much. You saw your sister die today, Rosie! Less than an hour ago, she died. But here you are, smiling and laughing as if nothing happened! I just don't get it!"

The smile on Rosie's face vanishes, "Rebecca wouldn't want me to be sad. She always wanted the best for me, and I know she'd be upset if I cried over her. She's dead now, crying won't bring her back. So, I'm happy. I'd rather spend my life smiling, than crying over what I've lost."

I'm suprised by how serious Rosie sounds, "Of course, I miss Becca...but I know she's in a better place."

It takes me a moment to realize both Rosie and I have frozen in place.

I start to say something, but can't find the right words to say, "We should keep walking. We'll make it back to camp faster."

"You're right," Rosie nods her head in agreement, "I can't wait to go to sleep, and be able to relax for the first time in days. We can pick up our question game tomorrow."

For the rest of the walk, Rosie and I were silent.