The night sky stretched endlessly above, a vast canvas speckled with countless stars. Neato trudged forward, his steps heavy and uneven. Every breath was a struggle; his throat felt like sandpaper, dry and cracked. The desert seemed to go on forever, an unending expanse of nothingness. His body ached with exhaustion, and the dehydration gnawed at him like a relentless beast.
He stopped, lifting his gaze to the stars above. They twinkled softly, indifferent to the suffering below.
"What am I?" Neato's voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and fragile. "Who am I?"
The questions hung in the air, unanswered. He had been walking for what felt like an eternity, but where was he going? He had told himself he was searching for home, but now, in the quiet of the night, doubt crept in.
"Is there even a home to return to?" he wondered aloud. "Or am I just wandering to a place that doesn't exist?"
His heart felt heavy, burdened by the weight of everything he had lost, everything he had become.
Suddenly, a shooting star streaked across the sky, its brief brilliance a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded him. A single tear welled up in Neato's eye and slowly rolled down his cheek. He smiled, a sad, hollow expression that held no joy.
"How funny..." he murmured, a weak laugh escaping his lips, tinged with despair.
His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving sand. His vision blurred, the world around him becoming a swirl of shadows and light. He felt his consciousness slipping away, but before everything faded, he saw something—two figures approaching him, their outlines hazy and indistinct.
An old man and an old woman stood before him, their faces obscured by the shadows. The old man bent down, his expression gentle, and carefully lifted Neato onto his back. The old woman, silent and calm, walked beside them. Together, they began to walk east, their steps steady and purposeful.
Neato's eyes fluttered, the last of his strength fading. The world around him darkened, and he surrendered to the encroaching void.
END OF CHAPTER 33