Orthodontics in the Zombie Apocalypse

9. The Unfortunate Story of Mikah's Mom (3/3)

Mikah brushes away glistening tears, silenced by his own solemn mood. I try to bite back my relief that his mother didn't crawl back out of her grave.

"Your mom is..."

He nods. "Yeah, she's dead for sure. She died long before zombies started popping up."

My lips press into a thin line. "So, that's it, then?"

"Oh, no. I just didn't think you'd want to hear more. It's not uplifting."

"That's okay. I'm down for a good story," I reply with a smile.

An odd darkness passes over his eyes, and a scowl twists at his lips. It really must be a bad past, for that kind of reaction. "We lived in poverty for a while--homeless sometimes when Dad couldn't pay the rent. Things were especially hard during winter--we used to live in Illinois. I only moved out west last year. Anyway, one night we all woke up, but my little sister didn't. She was all blue, even her lips. I had been holding her all night, stretched out my shirt so she could have my body heat. But she didn't--" he chokes. "She was four years old. I was nine by that point."

I place a hand on his shoulder and brush my fingers over his sleeve the way my mom always did when she comforted me. He shivers at the contact, but doesn't pull away.

"The next year, my dad was sent to prison for drug dealing. They found him with cocaine strapped all over his body. I was a foster kid after that, and looked to my older brother to get me out in two years when he would turn eighteen."

"Did he? Get you out."

"No. He was arrested for drug use a week before he turned eighteen. They waited until then to try him as an adult, so he was in prison."

"Was?"

"Sure. The zombies wiped it out a few weeks ago."

How was it only today that I found out about the zombie apocalypse?

I realize a beat too late that I should share my fabricated condolences. "I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure it's been hard for you."

"Yeah...sometimes I wish I could be someone else, you know? Someone who isn't the only one left in their family."

I think about Charles. I wonder what happened to him...

Mikah gives me a sidelong glance. "Have you had any major tragedies in your life?"

I carefully run my tongue over the sharp points of the brackets. "Just when the zombie apocalypse started before I got my braces off."

"I'm sure that's an extremely appropriate comparison." I can't fathom why his voice drips with sarcasm. I was being entirely serious.

He clears his throat. "We should make plans to head out soon," he says. "Stay here for tonight, but not much longer. I don't know how to feel about Shaniya, and I really don't want to overstay our welcome." He rises slowly to his feet, poised to walk out the door. "Besides, I think Sean finished making dinner."

+++

A/N

Slightly more depressing chapter, but hopefully you found a way to laugh at some point...maybe...or would that be morally wrong? Anyways, I hope you enjoyed!

Please, support this story by voting, commenting, and sharing!

Thanks!