Morning came in too fast.
The golden rays of the sun crept through the farmhouse windows and stretched across the bed in quiet warmth.
I was already awake, of course. I was always awake before the rest of the world. Years—decades—of habit didn't just switch off.
But for once… I didn't move.
Maggie was still half-draped over me, one leg tangled loosely with mine, her head resting against my chest.
The sheets were a mess, twisted and kicked aside like nobody's business.
The sun hit my face; warm, safe.
Outside, the farm was beginning to stir—faint footsteps, a distant creak of wood—but in here, it was still.
Still enough to ignore it.
Maggie shifted slightly, then cracked one eye open.
She didn't speak right away.
Just looked at me… then at the window where the sunlight was coming through… then back at me.
She slowly lifted an eyebrow.
"…You're still here," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
"Last I checked," I replied dryly.
Another second passed.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth.
"You're not up," she added. "You're not outside. You're not checking the perimeter. You're not out there going on a scavenging run of yours. You're not—" she gestured vaguely "—doing something."
I shrugged lightly, not even bothering to move. "Taking the day off."
That got a full reaction from her.
She pushed herself up just enough to look down at me properly, her hair falling loosely around her face.
"…Who are you," she said slowly, "and what did you do to Zephyr?"
I snorted in amusement, the sound coming easier than it had any right to. "Been moving too much," I said.
"Figured I'd try something different."
"Different," she repeated, like she was testing the word.
Then she shook her head, amused. "I don't believe it."
"Get used to it," I muttered, though there wasn't much conviction behind it.
Truth was… this felt strange.
Not wrong, mind you, just… unfamiliar.
Staying still in bed when there was always something to do, something to fix, something to plan.
Maggie studied me for another second, then smiled—soft this time.
"Alright," she said. "You do deserve a rest after all you've done."
Then she smiled, a playful one at that. "Though knowing you, you won't stay still for much," she said. "We'll see how long it lasts."
She started to slide out of the bed.
I caught her wrist lightly.
"Shower first," I said.
She paused slightly, then glanced back at me, that same playful look returning. "…Lazy and making requests now?"
"Yeah," I said simply, raising an eyebrow as if in defiance.
She looked at me for a second longer before she huffed a quiet laugh. "Alright, lover boy."
The water was warm.
Steam filled the small bathroom, fogging the mirror, softening everything into something quieter.
The outside world faded to nothing but muffled sounds and the steady rhythm of water hitting tiles.
Maggie bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. "You're actually relaxed," she said in mock disbelief, like she still didn't quite believe it.
"Don't get used to it," I replied.
She smiled anyway.
By the time we made it downstairs, the farmhouse was fully awake and we were late.
That part was obvious the second we stepped into the kitchen.
Carol looked up first, then Jenny. Both of them paused mid-motion, eyes moving between me and Maggie, then toward the window like they were checking the time.
Carol blinked once. "…Everything alright?"
I grabbed a mug without answering right away, pouring what passed for coffee these days. "Yeah," I said finally. "Just taking it easy today."
Jenny actually laughed a little at that. "You?" she said. "Taking it easy?"
I paused mid-taking a sip. "Just what kind of picture of me do you have in your heads?" I asked, somewhat speechlessly.
"You're mister 'I'm Zephyr the super soldier, I don't need rest,'" Jenny answered in a voice as if she was imitating me.
Maggie did a spit take at that, coughing violently until tears started to well in her eyes, while Carol covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders trembling and her face turning red from holding in her laughter.
All I could do at the moment was look at the three women dumbfoundedly. "…I am a human too, you know," I said dryly.
Jenny smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Zephyr, but you haven't had a single day of rest since the world went to hell. We were just surprised you're taking one now."
Carol nodded quickly from the side. "Yeah, you took us by surprise."
I blinked once, twice, then let out a somewhat awkward chuckle. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
The moment settled into something awkward. Carol coughed, then asked, "You guys want some breakfast?"
"If you still have any left," I answered, sighing in relief internally for Carol breaking the awkward silence.
"We always do," Carol answered with a smile.
After a quick bite, we stepped out onto the porch.
"Zephyr!"
I barely had time to turn before they hit me.
Carl first, then Duane, Sophia right behind them, and the Morales kids—Louis and Eliza—closing in like a second wave.
They didn't slow down, didn't hesitate; they just piled in.
"Thank you!" Carl exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement
"The comics—!" Duane piped from the side before Louis interrupted him, "I got the one with the hero—!"
"They're so cool!" Sophia gushed while holding a copy to her chest.
Their voices overlapped—loud, unfiltered, excited, alive.
I felt it: the weight of them grabbing onto me—arms around my waist, clutching my shirt with their small hands.
Real.
Grounding.
I rested a hand on Carl's shoulder, ruffled Duane's hair, steadying Sophia as she leaned into my side.
"You're welcome," I said.
Simple enough.
Then—a blur of motion, a low bark.
Ghost barreled into the scene like a white missile, skidding slightly on the wooden floor before circling the kids in excited loops.
"Ghost!" Sophia laughed.
The dog dropped low into a playful stance, tail wagging hard.
Carl immediately broke off to chase him.
Duane followed.
Louis tried to grab Ghost's collar and missed completely as the dog twisted away, light on his paws, darting between them like it was all a game he fully intended to win.
Laughter filled the surroundings.
Real laughter.
Ghost barked again, softer this time, then bounded toward the yard, looking back over his shoulder like he was daring them to follow.
And they did.
Of course they did.
The whole group spilled to the yard chasing after him, their voices carrying in the morning air.
I stepped closer, watching Ghost weaving between them.
Carl trying—and failing—to tackle him; Sophia laughing as she nearly tripped; the Morales kids shouting over each other; Duane sprinting like it was the most important mission in the world.
Normal.
As close as this world allowed.
I watched as Ghost finally let himself get caught, rolling onto his back as the kids swarmed him, hands everywhere, laughter louder than before.
Maggie stepped closer and took my hand in hers, interlocking our fingers together.
And just like that—the weight shifted.
It didn't disappear—never would—but it settled for now.
Because looking at them? At that?
Yeah.
Worth it.
Every lie, every risk, everything I've done.
I exhaled and pulled Maggie closer, and let myself just stand there and watch.
(To be continued...)