Surviving Beyond the Zombie Apocalypse (27 page)

     Through the ripples above and around him, Mike looked at the doctor’s face. She looked very concerned, and he wondered at the notion that she could be so concerned for him. The idea nearly brought a smile to his face and probably would have if he had not been shaken roughly.

     “I know who she is,” Mike cried out as soon as he was able.

      Doctor Dixon and the few others in the room looked at him with curiosity.

     Before they could comment, he continued, “The woman who tried to kill me in…in what, I guess, was a dream…she’s the same woman who passed me on the freeway.”

     The expressions of confusion had now become looks of complete incredulity.

    “Mike, you’re still recovering from a serious head trauma. The only thing you should be doing right now is getting plenty of rest,” Dixon offered him a bottle of drinking water from which drank a good portion.

     Mike’s mother joined the doctor at his bedside and said, “Honey, you need to listen to Doctor Dixon. She only wants what’s best for you, we all do.”

     He couldn’t help but smile at this, but it made him feel a bit guilty as well. Mike had never wanted to be the reason for others to worry. Even as a teenager when others his age were involved in all range of questionable activities, Gallagher had never been in much trouble. Of course, that’s not to say there weren’t the occasional late night parties and backseat antics, but any infractions were very minor and corrected with a slight scolding. However, that exemplary behavior was probably as much an avoidance of attention as it was an avoidance of discipline or punishment.    

     “I don’t want anyone worry about me,” Mike protested. “But I know who the woman who tried to kill me is!” He expected his announcement to be greeted with at least some happiness, but only silence and blank stares provided a response.
     After an awkward few seconds, his mother said, “But no one tried to kill you, honey. The police said the whole things was just a terrible accident that killed a woman…but not my son.” She could not control her tears with the last few words.

     Mike did his best to move close enough to give her an awkward hug. Even as he was doing this, he managed to make eye contact with Lana Dixon. It was clear from their exchange that some sort of bond had formed between them over a short period of time. The strong concern was also evident in the doctor’s eyes.