Chapter Twenty-One

We stood up, not realizing that the sky around us was growing dark. Nina stood up and began to look around.

“I’d really like to stay here longer, but I think we should head back to my place,” she said, still looking at the daffodils.

“Know it’s here,” I said standing. “Come back later.” I looked at my legs, covered in the soil that surrounded us, and jumped up as high as I could.

“What was that for?” Nina said in a louder voice. “What’s got into you?”

“Dirty,” I said with a smile. “Sensation of dirt. Cool, refreshing. Don’t want to clean.” I stood there, not believing what I just did. Eighteen years, and not once was I able to play in the dirt. It wasn’t ‘becoming’ of me. One day here, and I achieved something special.

“It’s never been a problem for me,” Nina said laughing. “But before we go, do you think it would be okay to take some of this dirt back with us?” I turned to her, trying to give her an answer. “I want to keep it close, just in case something happens.

“Scientist,” I said pointing at her. “Study something, never seen.”

“That’s the only reason I need!” She pulled out a glass jar from one of her many pockets and scooped up some of the dirt near the flowers. After tightening the lid and putting it back, she looked at me and held her hand towards me. “Shall we?” I took her hand as we began walking past the hill and the forest, back to Nina’s home.

We arrived at the same broken walls, and watched Nina move the brick and boards in the same order. She moved too fast for me to memorize any of the movements, but I wanted to learn some of it at least. She motioned me to go down first, and I obliged, taking the stairs to descend this time. Nina followed and headed for the cabinets behind the bookshelf. She opened the bottom one, and placed the jar of dirt in between empty glasses, away from the ones filled with liquid. After putting everything back in its place she sat next to me on the couch, as happy as she was with the daffodils.

“I can’t believe it!” she said turning towards me. The sudden change in volume made my head pop out, forcing my body to stand up and try to catch me. “Oh, sorry! That came out of nowhere.”

“Died, again,” I said, putting my hand over my heart. Nina just laughed.

“But in all seriousness, can you believe we found flowers, in this world?” she said, looking at me. “It just doesn’t feel real.”

“Stopped feeling real, seeing myself,” I said, pointing to my skin.

“You know what, compared to a funny, caring, talking zombie, flowers don’t seem all that impossible.” I let out a laugh. Nina put her hand on her chin. “But it’s got me thinking. If it were possible to find flowers just on the information of others, do you think we could do the other things in that book?” I was so enthralled with the flowers that I had forgotten about my other favorite activities. They were impossible to reach yesterday, but now I felt as if I could turn the corner and find them.

“Before, possible,” I said. “Now probable. Sayings. Rumors.” Nina tried to remember everything that was ever said to her.

“The saying about the flowers was easy because I could see it clearly. But something related to cooking, or the beach…” Nina looked up and then to me. “Settlements!”

“Other people!” I said matching her enthusiasm, before lowering my excitement. “Difficult? Zombie, remember?”

“That might be a problem,” she said. “Sure, we could try and disguise you but we’re one bad knock away from being chased out forever.”

“Go alone?” Nina thought about it before lowering her head.

“I might have been able to do it in the past,” she said, walking back and forth. “But now, I’m not sure. I don’t think I’d be okay leaving you alone, even down here. Besides, everything is a lot more enjoyable with you by my side. And I’m sure you feel the same way.” She winked as she finished those words.

“Teasing,” I said, trying to avoid eye contact. Nina stopped walking and laughed. Then she walked back towards the couch and sat next to me with something else.

“I got it!” she said with newfound excitement. “If we can’t go to a settlement, maybe it can come to us.”

“Travelers. Merchants!” I said.

“Exactly! I remember one of the routes passing near to where we are. It’s a bit farther away than the flowers but we can meet the merchant and come back within a day.”

“Together!” I said, standing up. “Disguise, necessary. One person. Safer than many.”

“I didn’t know you were also a mind reader.”

“Great minds.”

“Anything is possible now.” Nina walked towards her room, ready to finish the day. She stopped in front of the door and looked back at me. “Sweet dreams.”

“Sweet dreams,” I said with a matching smile. I laid down and closed my eyes, ready to meet the day that await us.