Jedidiah Walker: slams journal shut Got 'im! That bastard's rottin' now.
We cut to Jedidiah Walker, a southern prepper who's been writing in a diary for 20 years.
opens the diary, eyes filled with determination Twenty years of pain... It ends today. sighs deeply I'm alone now, but I won't be for much longer.
He writes about his last entry.
gritting teeth Took me five years, but I got 'im. That bastard's probably rotting in a ditch somewhere, his soul as black as the coal I used to dig.
He writes about how he was able to get revenge on the man who killed his family, but says it came at a cost.
pauses, looking out the window I did what had to be done. But it came at a cost. Now, I'm left with nothing but this damn diary and memories of what used to be.
He continues writing about himself.
flips through the pages Name's Jedidiah Walker. Born and raised in the hollers of Appalachia. Used to be a logger, but then the fire came.
He writes about surviving the forest fire.
grimacing The fire... It took everything. My family, my livelihood. Left me with nothing but ashes and regret. But I survived.
He writes about his hobbies and the locals.
scribbling furiously Woodworking, hunting... hobbies that kept me sane. And those locals... always looking over their shoulder, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
He writes about his relationship with his only sibling.
sighs heavily My only sibling... We weren't close. She ran off to the city, seeking her fortune. Left me here, alone and bitter.
closes the journal with finality This journal... my confidant, my guide. Without it, I'd have gone mad. looks around the cabin
He thinks about the future.
leans back in his chair, deep in thought What's next? Gotta find a way to make things right. Can't live in the past forever.
He decides to try to make amends with the people he's hurt.
Over the next few weeks, Jedidiah reaches out to the locals, attempting to make amends for his past actions. He offers them free woodworking services and donates supplies to local hunting clubs, but many remain wary of him.
He tries to convince them to forgive him.
firmly Look, I know I've made mistakes. But I'm trying to make things right. Just give me a chance to prove it.
Some are still afraid of him after all these years.
clenches his fists, frustrated Damn it! Why can't they see that I've changed? paces back and forth I just need one chance to show them...
He thinks about the consequences if he doesn't succeed.
runs fingers through his hair, exasperated If I can't win their trust, it'll mean the end of me. No one to depend on, no family...
He contemplates his loneliness.
sighs heavily Loneliness... it's my constant companion. looks at the empty room
He thinks about the possibility of finding someone to share his life with.
picks up the journal again, flipping through the pages Maybe... maybe there's still hope. pauses on a blank page
He begins writing a new entry.
scribbles "I will find a way to make things right. I can't live in the past forever. It's time to move forward."
He looks out the window, determined to rebuild his life.
stands up, resolute There's no point in dwelling on the past. Time to focus on rebuilding. starts cleaning up the cabin