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.”
электрокарниз двухрядный kupite-elektrokarniz.ru .
рулонные шторы с направляющими купить shtory-s-elektroprivodom-rulonnye.ru .
Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Bless you
ссылка на сайт vbet casino
luxurychoices.click – Marketplace offering elegant product selection and smooth, enjoyable navigation.
рулонная штора с электроприводом рулонная штора с электроприводом .
оптимизация и seo продвижение сайтов москва internet-prodvizhenie-moskva3.ru .
curatedliving.click – Hub offering attractive, high-quality items with a refined browsing interface.
интернет продвижение москва internet-prodvizhenie-moskva2.ru .
curatedmarket.click – Hub providing attractive, high-end products with a refined user experience.
раскрутка сайта франция цена internet-prodvizhenie-moskva4.ru .
purposeful action roadmap – Helps sustain momentum with practical and goal-oriented steps.
материалы по маркетингу seo-blog2.ru .
clarity in motion tips – Offers strategies for steady and focused forward movement.
рулонные шторы с автоматическим управлением rulonnye-shtory-s-elektroprivodom71.ru .
hiddenmarkethub – HiddenMarketHub offered unexpected items that made browsing fun and simple.
Forward progress guide – Helps maintain momentum while taking careful, deliberate actions
Intentional action hub – Supports acting thoughtfully and keeping forward momentum consistent
Focused action guide – Encourages initiating tasks thoughtfully and keeping momentum consistent
smartfindshub – SmartFindsHub featured hidden gems with effortless and enjoyable browsing.
бездепозитные бонусы в казино с выводом без пополнения
topvaluehub – TopValueHub offered surprising products with effortless browsing throughout.
uniquebuyzone – UniqueBuyZone provided hidden treasures and a seamless shopping experience.
1win xavfsizmi http://1win5513.ru/
Köszönöm hogy időt szántál ennek megírására.
1win profil sozlamalari http://1win5513.ru
Вывод из запоя — одна из наиболее востребованных услуг наркологической клиники «СтаврМед Центр». Это процедура, направленная на устранение последствий длительного употребления алкоголя и восстановление нормального функционирования организма. Специалисты клиники применяют современные детоксикационные методики, индивидуально подбирая состав капельниц и препаратов. Главная цель — безопасное снятие интоксикации, восстановление водно-солевого баланса и предотвращение осложнений со стороны сердца, печени и нервной системы.
Узнать больше – нарколог вывод из запоя в ставрополе
BrainFocusReeracoen – Clear and detailed content, site feels reliable and organized.
Article writing is also a fun, if you be familiar with after that you can write otherwise it is complicated to write.
BrainHubPro – Very professional, content is organized logically and easy to digest.
блог интернет-маркетинга блог интернет-маркетинга .
электро привод для штор shtory-umnye.ru .
стратегия продвижения блог seo-blog3.ru .
бездепозитные бонусы в казино за регистрацию
жалюзи с пультом управления цена жалюзи с пультом управления цена .
рулонные шторы с автоматическим управлением shtory-s-elektroprivodom-rulonnye.ru .
электрокарнизы электрокарнизы .
new strategy concepts – Inspires innovative thinking and practical application.
forward-thinking strategies – Encourages generating fresh ideas for impactful execution.
1win depozit bonusi 1win depozit bonusi
creative strategy guide – Helps think outside the box while planning effectively.
пояснения войти на vbet poker
Amazing blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely confused .. Any suggestions? Kudos!
Opportunity discovery hub – Supports locating growth zones and seizing actionable opportunities
1вин актуальный промокод 1win5513.ru
Growth exploration guide – Supports recognizing new areas and maximizing opportunities
Growth mapping guide – Helps uncover untapped potential and strategic areas for improvement
1000 рублей за регистрацию в казино без депозита
TrabasStrategies – Interesting content, navigation is simple and the site feels organized.
TrabasCorner – Clear and engaging posts, browsing feels smooth and effortless.