Gift: A Story Of Love, Hope And Zombies (Work In Progress)

2. The Morning After (A Hard Pill To Swallow)

Hannah wakes up alone.

Elliann and Ethan must have gone to their own rooms while she was sleeping. She's a bit disappointed that no one was there for her, after one of the hardest nights of her life, but she has to admit, she did appreciate the opportunity to be alone for a bit. Slowly, she rolls around her bed in an awkward, but natural stretch, appreciating the familiar ache in her stiff joints. At least she knows she can still feel.

Slowly, she props her hands at her side, pushing herself into an upright position, yawning as she takes in the room around her. The late morning sun shines through her shutters, casting beams of light that reflect off of the dust particles in the air. For a moment she allows herself to appreciate the sight. It fascinates her how something as dirty and plain as dust, when combined with the the power of the sun, could make something beautiful.

Her gaze falls on a small vile attached to a chain. A soulfelt gift from her late friend. Olivia.
She stretches over to her night stand, picking up the necklace and pulling it over. She holds the little vile inbetween her fingers, examining it's contents. A seemingly shimmering, rainbow mist swirls gently around its glass prison. A beautiful magic, projecting a rush of emotions onto Hannah.

The feeling of joy and embarrasment in struggling to hold in your laughter. The awe of wonder at the opportunity to experience new day. The heaviness and regret of hidden secrets. The desire to make a difference in the world. All this from a little vile of mist. What a curious thing magic is.

Reaching her arms behind her, she fastens the chain around her neck, the magical vile resting on her chest, right next to her heart, a lasting memory of her friend.

Ben wakes up in a bed that isn't his own, and a new soreness in his shoulder. A quick glance down reveals the source of his discomfort. Kelbys head is pressed into him, her cheek smushed up in an awkward position. Ben can't help but chuckle at her. It feels nice to be able to laugh, escaping the heaviness in his heart for a moment.

The vibrations of his laughter cause the sleeping girl to stir on his shoulder. Sluggishly, she tilts her head up towards him, lazily opening her eyes.

"What's so funny?"

"You."

"Oh."

A silence falls between them, the effect of morning drowsiness and not knowing what to say. After a few minutes of sitting together, Ben spoke up.

"I half expected you to be gone."

Kelby sighs heavily. "Yeah, well, you can be pretty persuasive I guess."

"So you don't want to leave right now?"

She opens her mouth to say something, then closes it, remembering that not all promises can be kept. "I'm not leaving until my times comes." She grasps his hand, squeezing lightly as she looks firmly into his eyes. "I'm not giving in. Living life to the fullest, no matter how long that just so happens to be."

He smiles.

Aravis wakes up on the couch, snuggled up with Ellissa, Elliann's head resting in her lap. Lissa is already awake, reaching over Ara to stoke Elliann's ears gently.

Aravis slowly lifts her head to look at Lissa. Elissa is quiet, wearing a sad scowel. Aravis lifts her hand to meet Lissa's on Elliann's head. Lissa shudders her head to look at Aravis.

"Are you okay?" Aravis' voice is soft and concerned. Elissa shakes her head in defiance. "Yeah. Me neither."

"How could we ever be okay?" Elissa let's out a hoarse whisper. "This keeps on happening. We keep on losing people. It never stops."

"I know.... But that's life I guess."

Both voices are strained, neither one convinced they can hold back their tears much longer.

Aravis is the first to break, Elissa following immediately after seeing her friend's tears.

"First the outbreak, the seperation. Then our brothers. Jaque.... Oli." Aravis discusses the obvious, but Lissa doesn't mind. It helps her keep a grasp on reality, even if just a little.

"Everything has changed so quickly," she mutters, rubbing her fingers across Elli's soft head for comfort. Aravis completely understands. It seems as though the past year and a half has been nothing but change after change, trial after trial.

Gently, Aravis lifts Elliann's head off of her lap, effectively waking the creature up. Elli gives a soft growl in greeting as Ellissa whines at the loss of contact with Elli. Aravis takes the opportunity to grab a hold of Lissa's hand.

"C'mon. This is a hard time for everyone. Let's go see if anyone wants some company."

Ethan wakes up to a bowel of sugar potatoes being shoved in his face by two teenaged girls, and a dog panting in his ear.

"I-you-iwga- what?" He splutters out, voice thick, still half asleep.

"I know it probably isn't as good as Oli made them, but we made you some shuggies!"

Ethan slowly takes the bowel from Ellissa.

"Thank you."

The girls smile at him, or at least do their best to, and nod their heads. Elliann licks his ear. She knows he hates it, which is really the only reason why she does it.

He eats his potatoes in silence, not speaking to anyone, but grateful that they're there.

Jessica doesn't wake up until late afternoon. No one bothers to wake her in the morning. She's lost more than most others, so they allow her the much needed rest.