The Drowning Room

Elena stood before the mirror in the executive bathroom, adjusting her hat—a felt number in charcoal that cost more than her first car. In the glass, she saw them: the walkers, the dead-eyed middle managers shuffling toward the quarterly review like zombies seeking fresh brains. God, she hated that metaphor. It wasn't even clever anymore.

The building's HVAC system pumped recycled air through twenty-three floors, each breath more recycled than the last. She turned on the faucet and watched the water run, clear and endless. She thought about the corporate mantra downstairs—"We're all in this together"—and wanted to laugh, but her throat was too dry.

"You look like you're plotting murder," a voice said.

Elena didn't turn. Marcus leaned against the doorframe, looking rumpled in a three-piece suit that had given up hours ago. His tie was loose, his eyes tired.

"Just thinking about the living dead," she said.

"The associates? They're not zombies, El. They're just people who need this job."

"Do we?" She met his eyes in the mirror. "Yesterday, I found myself standing in the breakroom, staring at the water cooler for five full minutes. Just watching the bubbles rise. Couldn't remember why I was there. Couldn't remember the last time I wanted something. Not wanted it because it was practical or expected, but wanted it like I wanted water when I'm actually thirsty."

Marcus was quiet. Then: "I keep my wife's hat on my desk. She died four years ago. Sometimes I talk to it."

The silence between them grew heavy, weighted with things they'd never say to the walkers outside.

"We could leave," Elena said.

"And what?"

"I don't know. Start over. Figure out what we actually want before we die."

Marcus straightened his tie. "The zombie thing—they don't even know they're dead, El. That's the tragedy. We still know."

Elena adjusted her hat one last time, tilting it at an angle that said she'd made a choice, even if she hadn't.

"Then let's do something about it."

The water kept running. Somewhere in the building, a meeting was starting. They didn't move.