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H E R
As I stepped onto the veranda, the sun was looming in the horizon, casting a golden hue across the courtyard where Beth sat, watching over the children's spirited game of tag. Their laughter seemed to momentarily drown out the distant moans of the dead. Settling onto the steps beside her, I couldn't help but be swept up in it. Just how normal everything felt. Maybe it was weak of me, or cowardly, but I didn't care. I likedto forget how lost the world was just beyond the corpse infested fences.
"How are you doing, Eleanor?" Beth smiled at me, her face lighting up in that cheerful way of hers. Beth had a way of making you feel like you were the most interesting person that she was always excited to see. It was a confidence booster for sure, considering the fact she was one of the most perfect, beautiful people and she gave me the time of day.
"I'm okay, just finished doing some canning with Carol and Karen. What about you?"
She reclined gracefully, her slender form bathed in the gentle embrace of sunlight. As she tilted her head back, the rays danced upon her delicate features. "Pretty good. Did you see the deer that Daryl brought in?"
I nodded. "I hope we have stew tonight."
"Oh, we better." Beth laughed, sounding like a joyous bell. "It'll be like Thanksgiving."
"If only we could finish off with apple pie for dessert." I joined in her jest.
The girl rested a hand over her taut stomach, as though testing the size. "I think I could use a couple pounds of ice cream. You could, too."
"They'll have to roll us out of the cafeteria." I added. Beth was good at getting my mind off things. Even if it meant just talking about food that was not possible for us to get our hands on. "I swear to God, one more bowl of oatmeal and I'll lose my mind."
"It's better than dog food."
"You ate dog food before?" I couldn't help but cringe at the idea.
She shook her head. "Not me. I watched Carl eat a can once. Not going to lie, it was kind of sad. Like, if I could make a list of the top ten most depressing things I've ever watched, that would be on there."
I thought for a moment of a melancholy Carl sitting on the floor eating pedigree chopped liver gravy, the whole scene lit with a muted tint, and couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, that does sound kind of gloomy."
"Speaking of Carl, could I ask a favor of you?" Beth asked, as though this whole conversation was leading up to this question.
