The Zombie's Orange Pyramid

Mia was bored. Rain tapped against her bedroom window while her goldfish, Finny, swam lazy circles in his bowl. Then something magical happened.

Her dad's old iPhone, which she used for games, began to glow. The screen rippled like water, and suddenly Mia was pulled inside!

She landed in a place where the sand sparkled like sugar. Rising before her stood a magnificent pyramid made entirely of glowing oranges. The citrus scent was so strong she could taste it on her tongue.

"Welcome!" bubbled Finny, who was now swimming through the air beside her, floating like a balloon. "I've always wanted to visit here!"

A slow figure shambled from behind the orange pyramid. It was green and bumpy, with one eye closed and stringy hair. Mia gasped—a zombie!

But then the zombie sneezed, sending a puff of orange glitter into the air. "Bless you," Mia said without thinking.

The zombie's one good eye widened. "Nobody's ever blessed me before. They all run away."

"We're not scared," Mia said bravely. "I'm Mia, and this is Finny."

"I'm Zed," the zombie mumbled. "I guard the Orange Pyramid. But I'm so lonely. Everyone thinks I'm scary."

Mia looked closer at Zed. He wasn't scary at all—just tired and misunderstood. His green skin looked like soft moss, and his smile, though crooked, was sweet.

"Would you like to play?" Mia asked.

Zed's face lit up. "Really?"

For hours they played tag around the orange pyramid, Zed moving faster and faster as his happiness grew. They built orange castles and had sword fights with fallen oranges.

When it was time to leave, Zed gave Mia the sweetest orange from the pyramid. "Thank you for seeing me, not just what I look like."

Mia hugged her new friend. "Being different doesn't mean you're scary. It just means you're special."

Back in her room, the iPhone was normal again. But Mia knew that whenever she felt lonely, she could visit Zed and Finny at the Orange Pyramid—where true friendship is the greatest magic of all.