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“Who were you before the dead rose?”
“A botanist. That was my job and my hobby. Both of which are pretty pointless now, too.”
I snort. “Do I need to list everything to prove you wrong?”
“No. But I have a strong understanding of planting seasons.” She goes quiet and even though she’s looking up, she’s no longer seeing me.
“What’s going through your mind, Emily?”
“People used to be so nice before the dead rose. Well, not everyone. But there weren’t many people who were dreg-like until it happened. Like, that’s who they really were deep inside and now they no longer have to hide. That’s my take on it, anyway.”
“I’ve thought about that, too. I think I’ve run into more cruel people than kind.”
“Is that why you three keep to yourselves instead of joining a colony?”
“One reason.”
“Do you wonder if the world could ever go back to how it was?”
Stalling my movements, I push her up into a seated position. Her hair was clean a while ago, but I couldn’t stop, not until now. And now the wet strands fall down her back and over her shoulders, soaking her pale green t-shirt. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know. It’s stupid, but sometimes I dream about there being a cure. Do you think that’s stupid?”
Shaking my head, I run my fingers through her wet hair. “I don’t think that’s stupid at all. I don’t know how the world could recover if it happened. This is quite a thing to bounce back from. It’s changed people, and I don’t just mean the virus.”
A mosquito lands on her nose and she swats at it, but it flies away so all she does is smack herself in the face. “Ow.” She holds both of her hands to her nose when her eyes water.
I chuckle and turn her toward me. “Here, let me see.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll just hold you until you feel better.” I pull her against my chest and wrap my arms around her. She’s so small compared to me, but still she fits perfectly.
“I can’t believe I did that.”
“You’re fine. I saw nothing, so there are no witnesses. What is it you did?”
“Liar.”
I chuckle again, but then Buddy is standing over her, sniffing her from head to foot. I’m not ready to let her go, but the dog is worrying, so she’s forced to remove her hands and show Buddy that she’s okay. There’s a small red mark on her face, but she’s otherwise okay.
“See, Buddy? I’m fine.” She moves away from me and finishes washing up the rest of her body. I get out of the water and start drying off, giving her some privacy.
Once I’m dressed, she’s still not done. She’s moved to a spot that’s a little deeper and I believe it’s to get a little more hidden, so I move away. But I can’t leave her. I don’t want to. She could slip and fall and get hurt, and we’ll all be too far away to know. So I sit at the base of a tree where she can’t see me. I can’t see her either, but I could hear her if she calls out. I pull out my harmonica, but I don’t play it. I only look at it. There was a rotter close enough to camp to grab her, so there could be more out there, and the last thing I want to do is attract them. But for the first time since the dead rose, I want to play music again.
10
EMILY
The glare I give Griffin is unreal. “We’re not leaving Buddy in the car.”
“If we roll the windows down, he should be fine.”
“How about we leave you in the car and bring Buddy instead? He’d be much less of a nuisance.”
Griffin closes his eyes and rubs at his temple, something he’s been doing a lot lately. “This was his first home. Do you think he won’t try to return to them?”
“You must’ve missed the way they treated him. They freaking kicked him, Griffin. Maybe I should kick you and then you can judge for yourself.”
