Don't be good...be yourself...5 liters...
"Melissa is red faced, flushed with the exertion of running down the stairs and out into the roughly cobbled street. It can’t be much more than forty degrees out but she’s wearing nothing but the simple shift Gris first tore apart for her to wear in the wastes and a pair of filthy socks that threaten to come off with every step."
"The girl bounds toward Garrett and throws her arms around his midsection. She buries her head in his chest and her sweat and tears begin instantly soaking through the front of his blood dyed, outer robe."
“I’m so sorry I complained and acted like a brat! Please take me with you. Please! I’ll do whatever you want. Don’t make me stay here, please!”
"Garrett draws his arms around the girl, he sees Meeks taking a few steps forward, the man stops when Garrett turns his eyes on him. Next Garrett casts his gaze on Robarts. The man smiles knowingly at Garrett, he won’t be turned away by a look but he’s smart enough to be patient. Garrett also sees Josephus, just now coming out onto the porch, followed by the old woman who takes a hold of his shoulder while holding onto the door jamb for support."
“Get back in here, girl, this is unseemly!” The old woman calls out and Garrett releases his hold."
“She’s right. The neighbors are likely lighting lanterns to watch this spectacle.”
“Frak them, and frak her! She’s awful, and so is this place.”
"Garrett untangles himself from Melissa’s grasp. “She’s just a product of her environment, so are you, as am I. You can learn from her, without becoming her, that’s within you, as are all things because you’re that strong, and that stubborn. This place is your future. There’s no future out there in the wastes for anyone.”
“I don’t want a future, or anything else from this place. Please, I swear I’ll listen, I’ll be good.”
"Garrett pushes the girl away. “Don’t be good. Be yourself. You’ve learned and grown so much, too much to just behave. You’ll flourish here, or at least have the chance to.” Garrett waves at the world beyond the metal walls, “Out there, you’ve seen it, you know, it’s all just hunger and death.”
