Dead Battery Walking

Maya dragged herself into homeroom feeling like actual garbage. Another night of doom-scrolling until 3 AM will do that to you. She was running on pure caffeine and vibes, basically a zombie in a vintage band t-shirt.

"Dude, you look rough," whispered Jordan, sliding into the desk next to hers.

"Rough is generous," Maya managed, massaging her temples. "I'm in full zombie mode today. Forget brains, I just need breakfast and maybe a small miracle."

Jordan chuckled, then his expression shifted to full panic mode. He started frantically patting down his pockets. "No, no, NO."

"What? Did you forget—"

"My phone. I left my iphone at home. My mom is going to actually murder me, she's already on my case about being 'disconnected from the family' or whatever." Jordan buried his face in his hands. "I'm dead. This is it. Game over."

Maya almost laughed. Almost. Because she knew that feeling deep down— that irrational terror of being unreachable, of missing out, of existing in the world without a digital safety net. They were all zombies, really. Connected yet completely disconnected.

"Wait," Maya said, digging into her backpack. "I brought my charging cable because my battery was literally at 4% this morning. You can charge off my laptop during lunch."

Jordan looked at her like she'd just offered him a kidney. "You're literally a lifesaver. I'd offer you my firstborn, but I'm broke and emotionally unavailable, so..."

"Your continued existence is thanks enough," Maya deadpanned, but she was smiling.

The bell rang. Their teacher Mr. Harrison started droning about symbolism in The Great Gatsby, and Maya caught Jordan's eye across the room. He gave her a grateful little nod, and in that moment, something shifted.

Maybe the zombie life wasn't so bad if you had other zombies stumbling through it with you.

"Hey," she texted Jordan under her desk (rebellious, yes, but she had 12% battery and felt dangerous), "lunch? Charging station?"

"Bet," he texted back.

Maya leaned back, feeling strangely hopeful. The zombie apocalypse might be happening, but at least she wouldn't be facing it alone.