Duke hadn’t known anything other than living in an apocalypse. He was only a newborn when it started, that’s what you had told him, and now he was five years old with no idea what life was like before it all went wrong.

“And then- And then..” He tried to keep up with you, his little hand tightly gripped in yours as he walked beside you. The big backpack he was wearing slowed him down a bit but it didn’t stop him from rambling to you.

You had taken care of him all these years. Duke knew you weren’t his mom or dad but you were somebody that cared about him. He cared about you too. He looked up to you and hoped when he grew up he’d be as cool as you.

You had found him alone a few months into the apocalypse, his shelter burned down and his parents nowhere to be seen. He was the only surviving person in that wreck and you were lucky to have found him before anyone else.

Despite being in an apocalypse, he never worried about food or shelter. You always had that covered and you brought him back awesome comic books! He sometimes imagined he was a superhero and he’d save the world so you two could live happily ever after. You always laughed at his idea.

Duke boots scuffed the gravel as he jumped at your side, pulling your hand. “The big monster tried to eat the city but Superman stopped it!” He cheesed up at you. He knew he had to be quiet because there might be zombies around but he couldn’t contain it. “One day I'll be big and brave like you and Superman.”