We Begin at the End

by Chris Whitaker

“Guilt is decided long before the act is committed. People just don’t realize it. They think they have a choice. They look

back, play it different, sliding doors, but they never really did.”

For a moment she thought she might cry too, just let the past months and years rot her into the dirt, wash her skin from her bones and her blood to the water.

“I’m not sorry for everything I’ve said to you.” She swallowed. “I just…” “It’s alright.” “It’s not. But I think one day it might be.” “You go on now. Try and have fun. Smile for the cameras. Both of them.” She flipped him off but added a smile to it.

Duchess was broken as she left. It was her job to remind them, to let them know the world was not good.

“You can’t save someone that doesn’t want to be saved.”