“I am not afraid to keep on livin’,” the Archer said, “I am not afraid to walk this world alone.”

“But,” I said, “if you go, the Ghouls will get you.”

“Why do you think they call me the Archer?” He said, hoisting a longbow over his shoulder. “Besides, you guys can’t afford to feed me, I eat twice as much as anybody else. I can find my own food in the wilderness.”

I realized that there was nothing I could say to convince him to stay, so I decided to do what I’ve been wanting to do ever since I first saw him. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

When I released him, he said, “Lyra, even though I’m leaving, that doesn’t mean that I won’t miss the people here. I’ll miss you most of all. Maybe, in better times, I’ll return and we might be able to start a life together.”

With that, he turned away and climbed up the ladder that led to the surface entrance to the bunker, and was gone.