Of course, back in the cottage...

On the road back to the cottage, the rains came in. I was glad, as it meant my newly planted crops were being watered, however, Rosie was less than pleased, only wearing a tattered thin top and torn up jeans. After a mostly quiet walk back home, she was beginning to shiver.

I sat Rosie down at the table in the kitchen and made her a cup of tea, boiling the water over my fire pit outside. She thanked me quietly as I handed her the drink and laid a blanket over her. She told me how all her friends and family had died or turned into creatures. How thankfully, her father became a doomsday prepper thanks to Covid-19, and so she had a bunker in the basement stocked with food for at least 2 years. There had been little need to leave the house. The day the goblins attacked her, she had felt safe, and begun singing to herself to pass the time. This seems to be what attracted their attention

So I opened up to her about my experience. She seemed incredibly doubtful of the lost time story I gave her, but didn't outright question me on it. It was rather awkward to begin with, but we soon settled into light conversation about childhood and the world before, to find some escape from the confusing world we now lived in. Until it thundered outside and made her jump.

"How do you know it's safe here?" She asked.

"Well, the goblins live in trees in residential areas, where there were lots of people. This is only a small village. I cleared them out here as soon as they appeared, but even still, I have strong barricades on all the entrances to the valley, and good views on all the nearby forests. They don't come out at night. I sleep on the top floor and keep my room barricaded. As if that's not enough, I have weapons at my bedside, so I'm always prepared. You'll be safe, I promise."

She gave me a funny look. "I believe you. It's strange though. I don't know you that well but you seem... different somehow. You always seemed so friendly and laid back, but now, well, I don't know how to describe it..."

"Listen Rosie, I've had to do a lot to survive. I do feel a little different now, but I'm not sure it's a bad thing." It was true. I felt stronger, more confident, more assertive. I looked her dead in the eye as I spoke. Something I would have struggled to do in the past.

She analysed me for a brief second. "I'm not sure it is either." Then she smiled.