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We pass a storefront, and when I squint inside, I’m surprised to see a Tamagotchi display.
Before the world fell, they’d made a comeback, and while I admit that I thought they were super lame, for some reason, I take comfort in the sight of them. Perhaps it’s because I hadn’t expected childish joy to endure the apocalypse.
“Pssst!”I rush out.
Gabriel turns, sword raised. His brow furrows. “What?”
I point to the shop. “Can we go in there?”
His lip sneers. “Why?”
“Because I need to.”
He stares at me for a long moment before nodding.
We make our way in through a broken window, which spans across the entire front of the shop. Most of the shelves have fallen to the floor, and ironically, the place hasn’t been picked clean.
I put three Tamagotchis in my pack, then I add a couple of journals and fancy pens.
Gabriel chuckles. “You wanted a Tamagotchi?”
“Something about it spoke to me.” I look around at the various things strewn across the store. “I guess I didn’t expect all this stuff to be left behind with looters and all.”
“Too many people died, and the ones left behind are mostly seeking food and comfort. You’ll be hard pressed to find booze and cigarettes, but books and toys there are plenty.”
All at once, my heart lifts. I’m downright giddy.
“Can we loot?”
“Loot?” He shoots me a perturbed look. “We have everything we need waiting for us at the Keep, and I’ll get you what we don’t have. Remi asked Gage for some Kinder Joy eggs, and he returned with a full box less than a day later.”
“Yeah, but that’s not what I want. I want to explore.”
Gabriel’s jaw tenses.
“Come on! I need this.”
He rolls his eyes, his shoulders slumping. “Just a few stores.”
I nod. “Just a few.”
For the next hour, we scour the street, looking for old world treasures to take with us to our new home. We look at furniture, deciding which would look good in the apartment we imagine for ourselves. He likes dark, manly tones. Slate gray and navy blue. I prefer boring beige.
As much as Gabriel likes to grumble, I can tell that he, too, is having fun getting lost in what could have been.
When we get to a baby store, we both go silent. Me, because I know what’s expected of me. Him, because of the guilt he feels for wanting it so badly. Or at least that’s what I imagine him feeling.
I go inside and start looking through all the baby gear, hoping to find something meaningful to bring with us. Something from the time before.
“What do you think of this?” I ask, holding up a onesie that’s decorated with ducks.
He frowns. “What doyouthink of it?”
“I think it’s cute and gender-neutral.” I stick it in my bag.
“When the guys found out Selina was pregnant, each brought back bags of toys and clothes, even though there was already a mountain of stuff at the Keep.”
“Yeah, but this is something I picked.”
