Nothing Left to Say

I walked over to the kitchen, rubbing my face. I was kinda growing some stubble, which sucked, 'cause it was itchy and kinda ugly. Unless I grew it out to a full beard. That would be cool.

“What would you like for breakfast?”

"I don't know, whatever there is. I've been living off crackers and jerky for the last three years."

I nodded and made pancakes.

"Do you want any help, Miss?"

“Umm sure.”

"What can I do?"

“There’s a chicken coop out back, can you get me some eggs?”

"Uh, I can try. I've never... done it, but I can try." I looked for something to collect the eggs in.

“There’s a basket by the coop on the back of the coop you’ll see a box with a hinged lid, just open that to get the eggs.”

I nodded a bit, replaying the instructions in my mind before walking outside, finding the coop. I found the basket and tried to find the back of the coop, looking for a box.

I kept working.

I found the box and slowly reached in, delicately grabbing the eggs and pulling them out and into the basket.

I waited for the eggs.

I got them and started to walk to the door when a chicken walked out of the coop. I froze and stared at it as it looked at me. I never fought a chicken before, but I imagine it wasn't pleasant. I slowly backed away before turning and quickly running back inside before it could do anything.

“You ok?”

"Yes, ma'am. I just had a stand-off with a chicken, though." I set the eggs down on the counter. "But, I got 'em!"

I laughed a little and used the eggs I needed.

I smiled a bit, which kinda hurt my face. I hadn't smiled in a long time.

I started putting food on plates as it was ready.

I got my food. "Thank you very much, ma'am."

I nodded slightly, “You’re welcome.”

I sat down at the table and started eating.

My notes were still on the table from the original virus, they had my name on it.

I tried not to pay attention to all the science stuff because I wouldn't understand it, but I did glance as something with her name on it. "What's that?" I asked, trying to make conversation.