September 20, 2023

59 days into the apocalypse.

Rain is pouring hard outside while I'm writing on my journey.

Today, has been hard. David ditched us. I don't know why, but when we woke up this morning, he was gone. Due to having a good warm meal and comfortable beds, we had slept in today, and woke up very late.

After we woke up, we freshened up ourselves in the bathroom attached to the guest room and headed downstairs. The Sedgwig couple were already up and had prepared some coffee for everyone.

The rain was still pouring outside, though not as intensely as last night, but definitely strong enough that one wouldn't want to venture out. And the warm coffee looked very appetizing with the given atmosphere.

James had taken a cup of the warm beverage for himself and I was about to grab one too, when Natalie asked where was David.

That's when I noticed our blond friend wasn't with us. My first thought was that maybe he slept in like us and probably hadn't woken up yet. I shared my thoughts with Natalie, and she had shrugged and replied she was going to check up on her companion, and left with two cups of coffee.

I and James remained downstairs, talking with the Sedgwig couple. James was quietly sipping his coffee, while I talked with them about potentially bringing them with us, telling them about the Quarantine zone at Atlantic City.

Mr. Sedgwig looked skeptical, and his wife seemed to share his concerns. They had told me they'd think about it for a while before informing us about their descision.

That's when Natalie suddenly came into the room, panting like she had just run a marathon.

"David isn't in his room!" She had declared.

We were immediately up on our feet.

"What?" James asked, putting down his cup.

"I-I went to his room to wake him up, and-and he wasn't….there. His bag is gone too." Natalie spoke, almost panicking.

I was quickly by her side, holding her by her arms while trying to calm her down, while James quickly went upstairs. It took me several minutes to calm her down, after which I left her in the hands of Mrs. Sedgwig, who was quick to help sooth the girl as I made my way upstairs.

I joined James in the room where David was supposed to be. The room was empty. David's bag and belongings were gone too. The only sign that he was once here was the rustled bed.

I and James had went downstairs, and asked the Sedgwig couple if they had seen David. Their answer was no.

Based on all this, there was only one possibility. David has ditched us and left last night after we went to sleep or early this morning before anybody woke up.

David's sudden departure like this had stunned us and has left us flabbergasted. I just couldn't understand why he would ditch us like that? Without even leaving a note.

I know a few days of surviving together isn't probably that great of a bonding experience, but we seemed to get along well.

And why would he leave altogether? The rain was still quite intense, and there are hundreds of dangers lurking out there, and David isn't the best at handling all that.

But despite all these questions and ifs, him leaving was the best explanation we have for his disappearance. Maybe someday we would cross paths, and we can then find out why he left us like this.

Perhaps the most affected was Natalie. Poor girl, she looked hurt at the news of David leaving us, and had spent a significant amount of time crying. She's currently curled up on the guest bed, sleeping under the blanket. She even refused to eat dinner tonight.

I, I just hope we can find David one day, and that he's alive and well out there.