Page 98

She moved her hand from Saff’s bicep down to her wrist, her fingers intentionally brushing over her skin until they touchedthe familiar beads of the bracelet. The bracelet she’d traced over probably at least a dozen times by that point.
“What's it really for?” Maddie asked quietly, halfway expecting Saff not to answer.
Saff was quiet for a few more moments. Then she finally spoke. “A kid. A patient at the hospital.”
“Oh,” Maddie replied, surprised by the answer.
Saff cleared her throat and shifted again, but didn't pull her hand away. “They had craft sessions for the inpatient kids every day. He made it in one of them, I guess.”
“That's sweet,” Maddie whispered. “He must have really liked you.”
Saff said nothing to that.
“What was his name?”
“Mason.”
So it was an M, not a W.
“What was he there for?” she asked.
“Leukemia.” Saff paused for a moment. “It—progressed fast.”
Maddie's heart plummeted. “That must’ve been hard to watch.”
Saff didn't reply, and Maddie hadn’t expected her to. She actually hadn't expected her to tell her any of that.
“You're a good person,” Maddie whispered quietly. So quiet it was almost to herself. Then she cleared her throat slightly. “I think, if we had met before the outbreak—I think we would’ve been friends.”
“You think?” Saff asked, and Maddie could hear the hint of a smile in her voice.
“Yeah. I do.” Maddie shifted her body and tilted her head down, just a little closer to Saff. “I think eventually you would have warmed up to me.”
Saff chuckled, and Maddie felt it vibrate down into her wrist, where her hand still rested.
She let out another yawn, her eyes growing heavy. She let silence fall between them, listening to Saff’s slow breathing and the crackle of the fire.
***
When they awoke the next morning, they ate some food before immediately moving again. The trail they were on became easier after the first hour, and after that, Maddie cruised along with ease, still clutching to Saff for guidance. Occasionally, Dean made some remark, or Carter pointed something out in the scenery, but otherwise, they all remained quiet.
Luckily, they avoided any major events like the day before. It was boring, but that was better than the alternative. The day before had been anything but boring. She could definitely do without running into the infected, and without having to worry, she was able to enjoy the surroundings: the smells, the noises. Occasionally, she would ask Saff to describe some detail of where they were or what was around them. They mostly stayed off the highway and in the wilderness, never straying too far from the road, but far enough to avoid any of the dangers or things that might be lurking there.
After hours of traveling, Maddie eventually heard the faint sound of running water.
"Are we near a river?" she asked.
"Yeah," Saff answered.
"You guys want to stop?" Carter asked. "Take a quick lunch break?"
"Absolutely," Dean replied. Maddie heard the sound of a bag dropping to the ground with a thud.
"There's a rock to sit on," Saff said to her. "If you want to."
Maddie sat down and pulled off her backpack, then searched inside for one of the protein bars and her jug of water.
After a few moments, Dean spoke. "So where'd you get the guns?"