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.”
Top Value Collection – Good pricing and a reliable interface made checking things out simple.
ValueHub Online – Browsing was smooth, and the overall product quality seems promising.
Unique Picks Online – Enjoyable browsing and the finds are displayed neatly.
Creative Marketplace – Browsing was smooth, and the range of finds was impressive.
I love how you backed up every point with real examplesmade the whole topic so relatable and easy to understand. Thanks for putting in the time to create this!
goldenlookstore – Simple interface and neat product displays, made shopping quick.
азино 777 официальный сайт вход Готовы к порции адреналина и ярких эмоций? Azino777 ждет вас! Попробуйте свою удачу на множестве игровых автоматов, ощутите азарт настольных игр и получите незабываемые впечатления. Azino777 – ваш билет в мир захватывающих приключений!
bayfashionhub – The site is organized and simple to navigate, made browsing effortless.
Plains Choice Shop – Enjoyed how relaxing the interface felt, and navigating between pages was simple.
sunnyfashionhub – Easy-to-use layout and well-arranged items, shopping was smooth.
ремонт бетонных конструкций железобетонных http://remont-betonnykh-konstrukczij-usilenie.ru .
гидроизоляция подвала влажность https://gidroizolyacziya-podvala-samara.ru/ .
Plains Market Online – The site looked organized, and checking items felt relaxed and easy.
Quiet Plains Finds – The catalog felt nicely arranged, and the overall experience was soothing.
Go to our site right now — http://www.medtronik.ru/
I blog quite often and I seriously appreciate your content. Your article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to bookmark your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed as well.
BH Bloom Shop – The page speed was solid and the product arrangement felt very natural.
DailyFindsCorner – Organized content, browsing experience was smooth.
BlueHarborBloom Showcase – Pages loaded instantly, and the design made it easy to scan through items.
Blue Harbor Hub – The site ran smoothly, and I liked how naturally the products were arranged.
QuickFindsDaily – Minimalistic design, very user-friendly.
FindsAndDeals – Simple structure, finding daily deals was fast and easy.
Наш сайт — только официальная информация > https://kanctanta.ru/
шторы умный дом шторы умный дом .
1xBet Promo Code $131 https://idematapp.com/wp-content/pages/1xbet_promo_codes_free_bonus_offers.html
1xBet offers a promo code that provides a bonus of up to $131, typically as part of the welcome offer. This bonus can be used for sports betting or casino games, giving new users extra funds to start their betting journey.
My family all the time say that I am killing my time here at net, however I know I am getting experience all the time by reading such good posts.
TrendSpotMarket – Great user experience with well-organized product listings.
TopTrendOutlet – Stylish items and smooth site design made browsing enjoyable.
TrendHubOnline – Well-organized selection of products and smooth navigation throughout.
этот контент https://weekpay.ru/
SmartSavingsOutlet – Affordable finds and browsing the site feels comfortable.
ValueSpot – Products offer excellent value, site layout is clean and simple.
BudgetFinds – Easy-to-use layout and products are well displayed.
1xBet Latest Promo Code https://idematapp.com/wp-content/pages/1xbet_promo_codes_free_bonus_offers.html
1xBet regularly updates its promo codes, offering new bonuses for users. The latest promo codes can provide access to free bets, deposit bonuses, and other rewards, ensuring users always have something new to look forward to.
PureHarborStudio Hub – Smooth scrolling and tidy sections improved the shopping experience.
Innovation & Creativity Hub – Pleasant browsing and easy-to-access creative ideas.
Unlocked Vision Hub – Navigation was smooth and the site feels very organized.
Creative Finds Hub – Well-organized and browsing through ideas was very enjoyable.
PureHarborStudio Portal – Organized sections and clear visuals made it easy to find items.
Pure Harbor Picks – Navigation was simple and I could locate items effortlessly.
FTC Fashion Hub – Great place for new styles, the layout made browsing simple.
Fashion Forward Corner – Loved the vibe of the site and the pieces were on point; browsing was smooth.
FTC Online Shop – Enjoyed the refreshed look of the items, navigation was smooth.
Contemporary Fashion Outlet – Easy to navigate and the collection felt fresh and stylish.
Fashion Style Hub – Great selection of trendy looks and browsing was seamless and relaxed.
аренда экскаватора погрузчика jcb в москве https://arenda-ekskavatora-pogruzchika-5.ru .
TAB Hub Online – Great selection, site responded quickly and navigation felt easy.
Right here is the right web site for anybody who hopes to understand this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic which has been written about for ages. Wonderful stuff, just excellent!
TAB Product Hub – Great selection of trendy items, site loaded smoothly and fast.
Trend Buy Picks – Plenty of options to choose from, and moving through pages was smooth.