I remember, when I was about 12, my parents told me that there may come a time when I'd be alone. They told me not to be scared of this, but to embrace it. It would be just another part of my journey, a journey, they assured me, would be a great one. It's funny, the things you recall when you've seen your life flash before your eyes. Funnier still, you realise all that you hold dear. I found some sound clips on Angie's comm device. In the midst of her delirium, thinking she was going to die, she found the time to apologise to me. Me. The one who she least of all owes apologies to. I mean, really, she doesn't owe anyone any sort of apology. She's never done anyone any harm, yet the world seems to be hellbent on wronging her.

Thats how it seems to me, anyway.

We're safe. For now. In Orion's shadow. Hiding from the outside, only just. But safe. I've seen corpses by the sides of the roads we've travelled along. This gas is a gas that kills. But we, somehow, were protected. I am...at best, confused. Angie has some more of her father's notes with her and I'm trying to make some sense of them. Nothing clear however. Nothing that jumps out at me anyway. I wish I could be as smart as Angie thinks I am, now. I wish I had all the answers she was looking for, but Angie can't have all her answers yet.

It's all going to take some time. The players are in place and now the final pieces need to come together. Then and only then will she gain any sort of clarity.

I hope it's what she's looking for.

I'm sitting here and I'm watching Angie sleep. Around us the skies are blood red and bits of material, furniture and whatnot are being battered around from place to place by hudge clouds of gas. If someone told me this was going to be the end of the world, I'd believe them. But it's not.
Angie's alive. And safe. Perhaps a little loopy, but she's here, with me and we're both alive.

I forgot my mask. Angie didn't have hers on when I found her. And we're alive.

I need a moment to process this.

can you?