The Longest Season

The corporate retreat at the Desert Springs Hotel was Marcus's idea — something about team bonding and fresh starts. Elena sat by the pool in a designer swimsuit that cost more than her first car, nursing a drink she didn't want, surrounded by colleagues she'd secretly started referring to as the walking dead.

"You look like a zombie," Sarah from accounting whispered, sliding into the lounge chair beside her. "Rough night?"

Elena forced a smile. "Just tired."

The truth was darker. She'd been sleepwalking through her life for months — the job that once thrilled her now felt like performance art, her marriage to Marcus a series of choreographed exchanges. They'd stopped fighting months ago. That would have required energy.

The office betting pool had already begun taking wagers on when she'd crack. Marcus had put fifty dollars on "before Thanksgiving." He'd told her about it over dinner one night, as if sharing an inside joke. She'd merely nodded.

A golden retriever puppy wandered over from the neighboring villa, its tail wagging with an enthusiasm that made Elena's chest ache. It nudged her hand with a wet nose, demanding attention she couldn't remember how to give.

"Buster!" A woman called out, running over. "I'm so sorry, he's still learning boundaries."

"No, it's..." Elena started, then stopped. The dog was looking at her with such uncomplicated want. "He's perfect."

She realized she was crying — silent tears tracking through her SPF 50. The woman, a stranger, didn't look away. Didn't offer platitudes. Just sat down beside her and let the dog rest his head on Elena's knee.

"Sometimes it hits you like that," the woman said quietly. "The weight of everything."

Elena looked at the pool, where Marcus was holding court with the junior executives, his laugh carrying across the water. The zombie reference suddenly made sense — she'd been the walking dead all along.

"I think I need to make some changes," she said.

The dog thumped his tail against her leg, as if in agreement. For the first time in months, Elena felt something like hope.