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Somehow, Trent kick-started my libido into overdrive, and now I can hardly stand being in the same room as him without becoming flush.
Thankfully, the situation is only temporary. As soon as Duri’s leg heals, we can move. Or perhaps Trent will return from whence he came before that.
While that would be the most ideal situation, for some reason, the thought of him leaving fills me with sadness. It’s been so long since I’ve had the company of another adult, and even though we cannot easily communicate, his around-ness brings me unexpected relief.
And I cannot deny that bringing him pleasure made me feel…so many things. For so long, I felt broken. After I got pregnant with Duri, my husband rarely touched me. Having Trent take such satisfaction in me made me feel less invisible.
I pull on my thick coverings so I can scout, then I gently wake Duri and Hyun.
I hand Duri a can of peaches for breakfast.
“I’m going to grab some food. Watch your brother and don’t wake the man.”
Duri scowls. “He hurt me!”
“He had to in order to fix your leg.”
His tiny lip juts out, but I know better than to coddle him. It would only make things harder.
“I’ll be back soon.”
It might be surprising to some that I’ve lasted so long after the dead rose. What they don’t realize is that the whole situation played to my strengths.
While married to Ji-hoon, I made myself invisible. It didn’t come naturally, but the skill developed out of necessity.
Throughout my entire marriage, I existed under the pressure of my husband’s unreasonable expectations. One misstep could see me laid out for a week. I was sure, eventually, I would end up dead.
Walking in this world is like second nature to me, but to everyone else, it’s hazardous. A minefield. I’d watch from windows as people stomped across streets, only to be chased by the hungry dead. So many perished while I endured.
Even the living took no notice of me when I’d encounter them. I’m patient, waiting for them to become distracted before moving to safer areas.
Once I had to walk past dozens of idle dead, and while it was terrifying, it was strangely thrilling. I was thriving in a world where so many struggled.
I give my boys one last kiss, then head out to find food.
* * *
TRENT
I open my eyes to an angry face.
I jolt awake, blinking until the world gains focus.
“Jesus Christ, Duri—you scared the shit out of me.”
He stabs a fork into a can and shoves a peach into his mouth. Despite his injured leg, he somehow ended up in my bed, watching me ever so closely, which is creepy as hell.
I look around the room. “Where’s your ma?”
Juice drips down the boy’s face. The kid has no manners. I can hardly stand to watch him eat.
I get up, take him off the bed, and set him on the floor.
“That’s my bed,” I say slowly, trying to establish a boundary.
I limp to the bathroom to wash up, wondering where Suki went.
Hoping she’ll come back.
