Zombies at Sunset

Mara hadn't felt anything in three years. Not since the promotion. Not since David left without forwarding address. She'd become what her therapist called a 'high-functioning zombie'—showing up, responding to emails, hitting quarterly targets, but somewhere along the way, she'd misplaced her pulse.

Now she stood at the edge of the infinity pool at the company retreat in Cabo, watching the sun bleed into the Pacific. The water called to her, but she couldn't remember how to want anything anymore.

'You're going to stand there all evening judging the chlorine levels?'

She turned. David. Looking older, softer around the edges, but his eyes still held that sharp fox-like intelligence that had undone her completely in another lifetime. He wore a navy button-down unbuttoned one button too many, and Mara's heart made a valiant effort to beat.

'I was considering it,' she said. 'What are you doing here, David?'

'Consulting gig. Same zombie corporation, different division.' He stepped closer, and the distance between them felt charged, dangerous. 'You look like hell, Mara.'

'Thanks. You too.'

They both laughed, surprised. Then David's expression shifted. 'Remember Thailand? That night we went swimming at 3am?'

How could she forget? They'd been so alive then, so certain that passion was enough to armor them against everything life would throw their way. They'd been wrong.

'David, we can't—'

'I know.' He reached out, his palm pressing against hers, and the contact sent electricity through her numb flesh. 'But the water's right there.'

So they swam. Fully clothed, like the reckless people they used to be, while their coworkers drank inside at the open bar. The water cradled them, and for the first time in years, Mara felt something break open in her chest.

When they emerged, dripping and breathless, a small fox sat on the edge of the patio, watching them with amber eyes. It tilted its head, seemed to nod once, then vanished into the darkness.

'Did you see that?' David whispered.

'Yeah.'

'What do you think it meant?'

Mara thought about thefox she'd glimpsed in herself tonight—the wild, hungry part she'd thought was dead. She thought about the man beside her, the one who'd broken her heart and might still be worth the risk.

'I think,' she said, taking his hand, 'that zombies can choose to wake up.'