Photo © 2007 Rachel Cobcroft CC 2.0 BY NC SA
“We’re both dead,” he says, “long dead. But that doesn’t mean we can’t grow alive again!”
She can hardly believe what she’s hearing, of course. A fellow zombie, wanting to be human? Aspiring to be like them? If she didn’t know any better, she would think he was still one of them. But his pallor, his fetor, his unkempt appearance, his bulging eyes, his expressionless countenance, even the moan in his voice, all point to the sophistication that characterize their kind.
How? she wonders, Again human? One cannot undo death, cannot un-lose one’s innocence.
“No,” she says. “They want. We good.”
He shakes his head at her. “You have it all wrong. They don’t strive to be like us, and we don’t fulfill their wishes. They just want to be accepted, to be included.”
“We give them!” she shoots back.
“We give them neither acceptance nor inclusion. Don’t you see? We are the ones who have lost our souls.”
He presses on, and she hears his voice quickening, and wonders how he can talk so fast. “We tell ourselves that we’re better than them, but we only believe it because we hear it all the time. We don’t hold their answers; they hold ours.”
She stares at him a moment, processing his words, almost too much for her. He’s wrong. He’s sacrificing everything she’s worked for, everything she is. She considers destroying him, like the humans sometimes do. Has a zombie ever destroyed one of his own kind?
“You used to be human,” he says. “Have you forgotten already? Don’t you remember what it was like to think, to feel, what it was like to live? What it was like to love?”
She wonders: is that why he’s doing this, betraying their kind, out of some misguided love? Indeed, love was a powerful emotion.
He reaches his hand out and caresses her face. “I remember how you used to be filled with life, how you used to smile at me. How long has it been since we smiled?” And the corner of his lip inches up, stiffly, just a little.
Clearly he is not a full zombie. He is still somehow part human. “You, human,” she says, and she moves to grab him, to attack him as she would a human.
But he does not try to escape. Instead he says, “You can no longer hurt me, my sweet. You can no longer destroy me. I have journeyed to death, and I am on my way back. I’ve met those who have returned to life, and they’ve shown me the way. It all starts up here,”—he points at his head—”in the mind, and here,”—he puts his hand to his chest—”in the heart. None of us has really lost the ability to live; we’ve just forgotten how. All you need to do is to accept it.”
He gazes longingly into her eyes, a stare she just barely remembers. She used to be human, an existence she shed a lifetime ago, an existence that embarrasses her, that she wishes she could forget. His gaze bores into her long-forgotten soul, and she wants to lash out at him, to destroy him. But she also longs for it, for his affection.
She takes his hand in hers and brings it to her lips. She has forgotten how to kiss, but the feeling of his skin against hers reminds of all she has forgotten. She looks to him for a reaction.
“It’s okay,” he says. “You’re allowed to feel. You’re allowed to live. Don’t ever let them tell you otherwise, never again. Join us, and I’ll show you how.”
happyhomeworld – Pages are responsive, browsing was natural and products are clearly displayed.
mountaincollectivestore – Pleasant browsing experience, shopping flows smoothly.
wildmountainshop – Very easy to browse, and the natural-themed products are well presented.
homehubzone – Layout is neat, navigation is effortless, and products are easy to find.
Мелбет – международный букмекер, основанный в 2012 году. Компания получила официальную лицензию от Кюрасао, ориентирована на пользователей со всех стран мира, но в первую очередь на русскоязычных игроков. Зарегистрированные клиенты имеют прекрасную возможность пользоваться всеми преимуществами компании, принимать участие в акциях, собирать выигрышные экспрессы, получать промокоды и бесплатные ставки. Компания Мелбет регулярно предоставляет своим клиентам большое количество бонусов и промокоды. Что дает промокод для мелбет? Данное поощрение позволяет каждому игроку совершать бесплатные ставки, получать дополнительные денежные средства при пополнении игрового баланса. Кроме этого, благодаря промокодам сумма первого депозита может увеличиться до 100%. Букмекерская контора дарит бесплатные ставки для новых игроков и фрибеты для постоянных пользователей.
скачать melbet на телефон https://www.melbet5009.ru
evermeadowgoods – Great selection and intuitive navigation helped me explore products without hassle.
Yes! Finally something about %keyword1%.
сюда tripscan
Bright Timber Marketplace – Clean interface and good selection of products made shopping hassle-free.
Bright Timber Haven – Easy-to-use layout and visible products made shopping quick and enjoyable.
Bright Timber Market Shop – Smooth navigation and a wide selection of products made browsing effortless today.
MountainMistStudio Goods – Fast loading and organized layout improved the browsing experience.
MountainMist Studio – The interface was clean and browsing through products was easy.
мелбет зеркало скачать http://www.melbet5004.ru
Mountain Mist Online – Nicely organized pages and smooth navigation improved the experience.
Наш официальный сайт уже доступен — https://www.ikonu.ru/
Mountain Wind Treasures – Pleasant experience thanks to clear structure and neat design.
бежевые женские босоножки Женская обувь турция новинки – всегда в курсе последних модных тенденций, предлагая стильные и актуальные модели каждого сезона.
Mountain Wind Picks Online – Browsing was smooth and the interface is very user-friendly.
Mountain Wind Picks – Fast loading and neat presentation made shopping enjoyable.
boutique corner – Clear layout and neat presentation made finding products simple.
moonfall hub – Items loaded quickly and sections were easy to browse.
moon picks hub – Smooth browsing and neatly displayed items made exploring simple.
проверить сайт водка бет
Wolf Lane Market – Clean layout and smooth navigation made exploring products simple.
Timber Wolf Finds – User-friendly interface with neatly arranged items made exploring effortless.
Timberwolf Corner – Well-organized items and user-friendly interface enhanced the shopping experience.
Urban Meadow Corner – Items are easy to browse and layout is tidy — browsing was simple.
Somebody necessarily lend a hand to make critically articles I’d state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and so far? I surprised with the research you made to create this actual put up extraordinary. Fantastic job!
Urban Meadow Treasures Online – Everything loads quickly and layout is clear — shopping felt effortless.
Urban Meadow Finds Online – Clean interface and well-arranged items — shopping was hassle-free.
Urban Seed Treasures – Quick and effortless shopping with a tidy design.
seo agents seo agents .
Urban Seed Essentials – Fast browsing experience with a neat, organized layout.
Urban Seed Boutique – Smooth browsing and fast-loading pages made shopping enjoyable.
Shop Here Now – It’s so easy on the eyes and loads in a flash, perfect for a relaxed browse.
SilverBirch Online – The fast loading times are a standout feature that enhances the clean look.
Go to the main company website — http://ruptur.com/
Modern Fable Deals – Products load quickly, making shopping fast and easy.
Modern Fable Mart – Finding products is effortless and the layout is clean.
achiever’s hub – Browsing flows naturally and the site is well organized.
Modern Fable Hub Online – Items are easy to find and the interface is visually clean.
network hub access – The layout helps me find products without any hassle.
melbet app http://melbet5004.ru/
success corner – Moving between pages is easy and the design is pleasant.
мелбет слоты скачать https://melbet5004.ru
узнать vodka casino
wildrosefashionhub – Smooth design and easy navigation, products were easy to find.
greenoutpostemporium – Very organized layout, shopping feels smooth and relaxing.