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“Yeah,” Saff breathed. “Okay.”
A smile spread across Maddie’s face for a moment before she appeared to force it away.
It made a smile pull across Saff’s own lips. She almost couldn’t help it. Watching Maddie was like watching the sun rise on her early morning walks through the woods, soothing her in the exact same way.
And this time, she was too exhausted to make herself look away.She wanted to watch it. She wanted to watch—her.
Maddie cleared her throat and shifted again where she sat. “Are you gonna shower or anything?”
Saff shook her head lightly. “Too tired. I just wanna change and lay down.”
Maddie nodded, pushing up to stand from the couch. “Me too.”
Saff stared after her as she used her cane to easily navigate to the room.
“I’m just gonna change real quick,” Maddie called out over her shoulder.
Saff took one last deep breath.
Then she stood and made her way down to the basement, retrieving her backpack. And by the time she made it back up the stairs to the living room, the bedroom door was open again.
Maddie ambled through the room on the other side, wearing a light pair of shorts and a familiar-looking t-shirt.
As she got closer, Maddie turned, and she saw the Penn State soccer decal on the front.
She smirked, shaking her head as she walked toward the room.
“Gonna change in the bathroom,” she muttered, dropping her backpack inside the door and pulling some clothes out.
By the time she changed and returned, Maddie had already gotten into bed, curling beneath the comforter.
Saff dropped her previous clothes on top of the backpack and walked to the other side of the bed. She paused, wondering if she should close the door, but then thought it might be better to leave open in case Maddie needed something outside the room during the night.
She pulled the comforter down and perched on the edge of the bed, sipping the glass of water she’d retrieved.
“Want water?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Maddie shook her head, turning over onto her side until she faced Saff. “I’m good. Thanks.”
Saff took one last sip of the water, then set it on the nightstand.
She dragged her legs up onto the bed beneath the thick comforter, and by the time her head hit the pillow, it was pounding once again. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to loosen the tight muscles in her jaw.
“Feeling okay?” Maddie asked. Although Saff knew she already had her answer. Maddie seemed to somehow always sense how she was feeling, even before she really knew it herself.
“Fine,” Saff mumbled through her tired daze, the world tilting around her.
“Head rubs?” Maddie asked.
Saff pulled her eyes open and dipped her head to the side. Maddie laid there hugging the comforter, clutching it in one hand that rested beneath her chin. It reminded her of how she looked every morning she’d slept at the bunker.
Peaceful.
Happy.
And watching her now made Saff feel calm in a way she wasn’t sure she’d ever felt before. Definitely not after the outbreak. But also not before either.
Her body moved on its own, turning on its side and shifting closer until her head rested on the pillow only a foot from Maddie’s.