Zombie Mode

The fluorescent gym lights hummed, matching the buzz in my skull. Finals week had me operating on pure caffeine and anxiety, basically a walking corpse. Maya bounced on her toes, neon padel racket swinging like she hadn't been awake since 2 AM studying.

"Come on, zombie girl! One game won't kill you."

I groaned. "I literally can't. My brain is soup."

"That's exactly why you need this." She thrust a racket into my hands. "Physical activity. Endorphins. Science."

The padel court was our escape. Every smack of the ball against the glass walls was therapy, every rally a tiny victory I'd actually earned—unlike that AP Chem test I'd definitely bombed. For forty minutes, I wasn't thinking about college apps or my mom's texts asking if I'd submitted my essay. Just the game.

Then campus security's radio crackled nearby. "Curfew check in five."

"Oh shit." Maya's eyes went wide. "We're gonna get written up."

"You're the one who said 'science,'" I laughed, but we were already running.

We bolted through the athletic complex, sneakers squeaking against polished floors, hearts pounding in sync. The night air hit us like freedom when we burst through the side exit. No way were we stopping there—adrenaline had taken the wheel.

Maya led the way to the rec center pool. "Midnight swim?"

"You're insane."

"Live a little, zombie."

The pool area was dark and silent, water reflecting moonlight through skylights like something from a dream. Without hesitation, Maya stripped to her sports bra and dove in. A perfect splash.

I stood there for exactly three seconds before jumping in.

The water was shocking and amazing, washing away the exhaustion, the expectations, the everything. Floating on my back, staring up at those skylights, I realized I hadn't felt this present in weeks. Maybe months.

Maya treaded water nearby, grinning. "Better than Chem, right?"

I laughed—really laughed. "Everything's better than Chem."

We stayed until my fingers pruned, talking about nothing and everything, the zombie mode finally powered down. For the first time all semester, tomorrow didn't feel like something to survive. It felt like something I might actually be ready for.