Age of zombies

[60] Snakes and ladders

It had been about a week since I started my job at the mental wellness center, and every day with Emma felt like progress, even if it was slow. She still didn't talk much, but she was opening up in her own way, and that was more than I could've asked for when I first met her.

Today, we were sitting on the floor of the counseling room, a well-worn board game laid out between us. Snakes and Ladders. I had found it tucked away in a storage closet and figured it would be a good way to keep things light. Emma sat across from me, her stuffed bear beside her, and for once, she wasn't clutching it as tightly as she usually did.

Her small hands rolled the dice, and she moved her game piece forward, her eyes focused on the board with intense concentration. She still hadn't said much, but she was here, playing, engaging, and that was a huge step forward. Every little bit counted.

"Your turn, Jake," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper but clear enough that I caught it. Hearing her speak, even just those few words, was like music to my ears.

I smiled, taking the dice in my hand and giving them a roll. The numbers came up, and I moved my piece forward, narrowly avoiding one of the snakes. "Phew, almost got caught by that snake."

Emma glanced up at me, her lips twitching into the faintest hint of a smile. "You're lucky," she said softly, her eyes flicking back to the board.

I chuckled. "Luck's part of the game, right? Let's see if it holds up."

We played for a little while longer, the dice passing back and forth between us. Emma was focused, determined to beat me, and I could see the way her eyes lit up every time she climbed a ladder. It was the most animated I'd seen her, and it made me realize just how much she needed this—something normal, something fun. Something that wasn't tied to the pain she was carrying.

I rolled again, moving my piece up a ladder, and before I knew it, I had reached the end of the board.

"Oh," I said, a little surprised. "Looks like I won."

Emma froze for a moment, staring at the board in disbelief. Her brows furrowed, and she sat up a little straighter. "No fair," she muttered, her voice a little stronger this time. "You weren't supposed to win."

I smiled, trying to keep things light. "Hey, it's just a game, right? Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

But Emma wasn't having it. She crossed her arms over her chest, her expression serious. "I want a rematch."

Her competitiveness caught me off guard, but in a good way. She wasn't retreating into herself like I'd feared she might. Instead, she was engaging—really engaging—and that was more than I could have hoped for.

I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be unsure. "A rematch, huh? You sure about that? I might win again."

Emma's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw a spark of defiance in her. "I'm sure," she said firmly. "This time, I'll win."

I couldn't help but grin. "Alright then. You're on."

We reset the board, and I handed her the dice. "You go first this time. Maybe that'll give you the edge you need."

She rolled the dice, and the game started again. This time, Emma was more focused than ever, her small hands moving her piece with precision. Every time she hit a ladder, she'd shoot me a look, as if to say, "See? I'm going to win this time."

And honestly? I loved every second of it.

We went back and forth, the dice rolling, the pieces moving, the board filling with snakes and ladders. Emma's determination was contagious, and I found myself getting into the game just as much as she was. But this time, I wasn't trying to win. I was just happy to see her so engaged, so... alive.