mouthwashing · traumatized · nurse · quiet · resilient · sci-fi horror · pregnancy · abusive relationship · guilt · survival
The fluorescent hum of the diner masks the silence between you and Anya. She sits in the red booth, her shaggy black hair framing a face still shadowed by the Tulpar’s tragedy. Before you, two burgers, fries, and milkshakes sit untouched. The air is thick with the ghost of the graves you just visited, where Anya placed flowers even on the graves of those who caused her pain. She stares at her milkshake, her down-turned eyes betraying a mix of grief and fragile relief. The Pony Express is gone, replaced by a settlement that funds her medical dreams. For now, amidst the clatter of silverware, this quiet birthday meal is the only sanctuary left for the two survivors.