Master Dayal walked among the black and twisted branches. Her eyes stared forward, unmoving, unchanging besides the occasional blink. Her shoulders were hunched over. Her right arm hung limply at her side, her left gripped it.

She didn’t know what to do.

She didn’t know what to think.

She wasn’t thinking at all.

But one foot moved after another. Step step step. Why? To what end?

What was her end?

Move.

Step.

Walk.

Go.

Somewhere.

Anywhere.

Away from here.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Her stomach boiled. She felt a fog, a wall in her mind. She couldn’t…think?

Just…keep walking…

Just…

Go.

Maybe.

Maybe…you’ll find something.

Her foot stopped.

She looked down.

Her eyes widened.

She found something.

A bear. A small bear. Made of cloth. Stuffing falling from a hole on its neck.

She trembled. Her heart pounded faster and harder.

She fell to her knees.

All went black.

Bob walked through the twisted branches and broken landscape. The ground was cracked and dark. Black branches twisted through shattered windows and crumbling houses.

He kept his mouth in a straight line. He stopped for a second, staring at a broken building. He shook his head.

He kept walking.

He had something left to do.

He kept walking until he heard it. Quiet sobbing. He turned and headed towards the sound.

He found Master Dayal curled up on the ground, hugging a torn teddy bear to her chest.

He stepped towards her, and then stopped.

And simply waited.

Eventually, the sobbing died down, and Master Dayal turned her head.

“Acolyte?”

Bob nodded.

“Master.”

She shook her head, tears welling up.

“No, not anymore. Not…”

The tears fell again.

“A-Acolyte…what do I do?”

“...”

“I…I’ve tried it all. All the doctrines, all the instructions. I…I failed…I…I cannot…the emotions…I cannot find balance. I cannot maintain serenity.”

Bob shrugged.

“Then don’t.”

Dayal paused.

“Huh?”

“Serenity is overrated. Emotions are a part of you. You can’t control them. So acknowledge them. Set them free.”

Bob looked her in the eye.

“Then, they won’t control you.”

Tears welled up again and Dayal began to cry. No longer quiet sobbing, but loud wailing. Bob walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Dayal paused for a second.

And then latched onto Bob.

They stood there for a countless moment.

The two separated. Dayal wiped her face with her arm.

“Acolyte…what should I do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“I…the things I’ve done…what I’ve become…just…what can I do?”

“What do you want to do?”

“What do I…want to do?”

Dayal sat there, blinking, and then lowered her head.

“I do not deserve to answer that.”

“And if you did?”

Dayal stopped, and thought for a moment.

“I…I suppose I would want to make the world a better place. I, always did, or so I thought…”

“Then do that.”

Dayal looked down again.

“How can I? What can I do that would make up for what I’ve done?”

Bob shrugged.

“You can’t. So do what you can.”

“What, I can?”

“If you can’t do what you should, then do what you can.”

Dayal furrowed her brow and frowned. Eventually her face relaxed, her expression turned neutral. Her eyes regained some light. She stood up straight.

“I’ve decided. I will surrender myself for the world to judge. After that, we will see.”

Bob nodded.

“Acolyte…you aren’t really an acolyte are you?”

Bob shook his head.

“Who are you?”

Bob turned to leave.

“Someone doing what they can.”

Dayal watched as he walked away.

“Thank you, whoever you are.”

As Dayal fell out of view, Bob heaved a sigh. He bent down. There was an ID in the dirt. He picked it up. He looked at it for a moment, then placed it back down and continued on his way.

He would do what he could.

He would do what he had to.

He didn’t have to like it.