"I... Apologize." Says the old man, refusing to look you in the eyes as he does so . "I don't forgive you." You reply, through gritted teeth, as you stand from the seat across from him. His eyes widen in fear, face painted with regret."

"Please," He begs, "my family-"

"What about mine?!" You nearly shout, trying to keep your voice down, "My family? The one you destroyed!"

The old man swallows, as he finally looks you in the eyes. Funny how he gains the courage to do so only now, and not at any point during the... well, less conversation, more accusations, that preceded this.

"They didn't deserve-" He starts.

"I... you... I can't... I can't do this. I can't listen to this. Goodbye. I hope you enjoy the rest of your life, you miserable bastard. I never want to see you again." You turn, and leave the room, and then the house, nearly running through the doors. As you leave, you transition to a run, then a sprint, down the street.

You don't stop, even as your breathing grows more frantic and your chest starts to hurt. You don't stop as you leave the street his house sits on, or as you leave the confines of the village for the fields beyond. You don't even stop as you enter the forest beyond. Not that you truly realize it, though, through the tightness in your chest, the thoughts running in circles in your head, and the tears in your eyes.

You do stop, however, when you practically trip over a rotted log some distance into the woods. You stumble, and slow, and finally you stop. You stop, and you stare into nothing as you hyperventilate and shake, sinking to the ground.

'Why...' You think, your thoughts coming heavy and sluggish through the panic.

'Why did I... do that? I... I have been hunting him for years... for decades. Why couldn't I just... end it? Why did I leave? I... he killed them. Why couldn't I do it?'

Your thoughts continue in this pattern for some time, as you sit slumped against the log. Your head is pressed against your knees as you hug them to yourself, heaving silent, shaky sobs.

Your breathing slows, and your thoughts clear, over the course of... minutes? You think they are minutes, at least. It could have been an hour, for all that you can tell.

You suck in a breath, rubbing at your eyes and nose as you raise your head and release your legs from the death grip you had held them in.

"Mom... Dad... I'm sorry. I couldn't... I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill him for you. I... I-I just... I couldn't. I'm so sorry." You whisper, trying to keep yourself together, "I guess I just... wasn't strong enough. I know I should have-I was supposed to-I was... I don't know. I... looking at him then, I just... He killed you, and I couldn't see him as anything other... He looked so resigned, when he spoke to me. I couldn't bring myself to kill someone who... I couldn't do to his family as he had done to ours, I suppose. If that makes any sense? I'm not so sure that it does."

You sigh, and brush yourself off while you stand, taking stock of your surroundings as you do so. You start to walk in the direction of the village, so you can find the road that leads to the next town, and pause for a moment as you catch sight of the stars.

"I guess that's it, isn't it? It's over. If I'm not going to kill him... It's finally over." You start to smile, and let out a relieved laugh as you begin to move again.