The Last Child

She was the last child born on Earth. Her parents named her Hope, but they knew it was a futile gesture. The world was overrun by the undead, the living corpses of those who refused to die. They had consumed all the resources, polluted the environment, and waged endless wars. They had no interest in the future, only in preserving their own existence.

Hope grew up in a hidden bunker, surrounded by books, toys, and art. Her parents taught her everything they could, hoping to spark some curiosity and creativity in her. They wanted her to have a normal childhood, even if it was only an illusion.

But Hope was not like other children. She was quiet, withdrawn, and melancholic. She rarely smiled or laughed. She spent most of her time staring at the screens, watching the horrors of the outside world. She saw the undead roaming the streets, hunting for the few survivors. She saw the fires, the floods, the famines. She saw the despair, the violence, the madness.

She asked her parents why they had brought her into this world. They said they loved her, and they wanted to give her a chance. They said they hoped she would find a way to make things better. They said they believed in her.

But Hope did not believe in herself. She did not see any point in living. She did not see any hope for the world. She wished she had never been born.

One day, she decided to end her misery. She took a knife from the kitchen and slit her wrists. She lay down on her bed and waited for death to take her.

But death did not come. Instead, she felt a surge of pain, followed by a numbness. She looked at her wrists and saw them heal before her eyes. She felt a hunger, a thirst, a craving. She realized she had become one of them.

She screamed, but no one heard her. Her parents had gone out to scavenge for food. They would not be back for hours.

She got up from her bed and walked to the door. She opened it and stepped outside. She saw the sun, the sky, the trees. She saw the beauty of the world, for the first time.

She felt a joy, a wonder, a freedom. She realized she had been given a gift. She had a chance to live, to explore, to discover. She had a hope for the world. She wished she had always been alive!