Hearts' Desire

Nobody’s perfect. I’m ashamed to admit my prejudices against him before we met. I'm truly blessed for how he’s opened my eyes.

But, where are my manners! I’m rambling about myself and haven’t introduced you to my dearest love, Frederick. Now, don’t be quick to judge! Just because he smells a little and his clothes have seen better days, there isn’t a closer companion for me than Frederick. Do be careful though, he tends to bite. I suppose that should be expected from the undead.

How did we meet? Well, it’s a bit of a cute story, I wish Freddy could share his side but he’s a little… uhm… how shall I say, “socially challenged.”

Anyways… It was a cloudy day in June, finally warm enough to wear my cute shorts and top I got from Target. I was leaving the hospital, the one on 77^th and Park Avenue, when this whole mess started. You know the “end of the world,” or whatever the news media’s calling it. Honestly, so prone to exaggeration that lot. Anyways, I had just left the hospital and was planning on going to my old Auntie’s cabin in the Shenandoah Valley. Nice old lady, bit of a weirdo though, doomsday-prepper type.

As I made a run from the hospital, the whole thing just exploded! I couldn’t believe it, like something out of a movie. Knocked me flat on my ass though, don’t see that in an action flick where the big, buff, macho guy walks away from the explosion. Well, the explosion must have knocked me out cause I woke up to a meandering horde surrounding me!

Fortunately, Fred was already there saving me. You see, he was laying right on top of me, face buried between my breasts. I might have felt embarrassed were it not for the pressing circumstances. Obviously, we know now that these undead are just running primitive instincts, honing in on specific smells and sounds. At the time, I expected them to just start feasting on me and dear old Fred. All I knew was what I’d seen from a million different shows, unded eat dead bodies.

I laid there for what seemed like hours. Eventually it occurred to me they weren’t going to eat me, and it was at that time Fred started to stir. Lucky for me he’s a pretty short fellow, easy to keep from actually biting me with his short arms. That’s what makes our friendship so complimentary, he keeps the undead from killing me and I keep the world from killing him… well, killing him again.

I’ll freely admit, I was quite hesitant about being friends with Fred at first… I really don’t even know if that’s his real name. He’s certainly not the type of guy I’d typically be into. Fiery red hair, lots of unshaved stubble mixed in with freckles against a pasty complexion… a knock-off Ed Sheeran. But, they do say opposites attract and you can’t get much more opposite than me and Fred. I don’t know how I ever would have survived if not for it ­— I mean him!

I’m sorry… I’m getting a little frazzled, been a long time since I’ve had any company besides Fred. I’m sure you want to know how we ended up here. Well it wasn’t easy. Escaping Manhattan amidst the chaos was a nightmare, over a million people on the island and probably mostly undead . I thought we’d have a better time of it cutting through Central Park: open paths, no choke points, lots of difficult terrain for a undead to handle. Any undead that isn’t Fred anyways.

I may have been right about the lack of undead in the park, but I was dreadfully wrong about it being easier. As soon as Fred and I crested the first hill, we could see wild animals everywhere. I learned much later that Central Park Zoo had become overrun and the wildlife escaped, but at the time I was simply flabbergasted to see the elephants and zebras and lions running about the park. I was quite concerned that should we attract the attention of a lion or a bear we’d be ripped to shreds. Swimming through the ponds was certainly out, hippos and crocodiles made sure of that.

The din of gunfire and distant explosions urged Fred and me to try to sneak our way past the dangers. I knew we’d never make it through the ponds and brush, Fred’s not very coordinated, so we stuck to the paved paths and grassy sections of the park. Keeping Fred up and moving was a real challenge, every so often he’d turn his head and try to nip at my fingers, but thankfully I had a good solid grasp on the back of his neck. The trip through the park was largely uneventful, right up until the end.

We were in such a rush to escape the park that I blindly pushed us through a bush and Fred barreled right into a panda! I’d always thought they were docile looking creatures, but let me tell you… one little bump and they become vicious beasts.

I thought I was done for, but Fred wasn’t stunned for a moment. The moment we stumbled into that bear, he tackled the thing to the ground, claws or no claws. Bravest thing I ever saw… though I suppose Fred did have the advantage of already being dead. It was quite surprising when he ripped the arms right off and proceeded to gnaw on them as it bled out.

Watching him devour that monstrous beast, it dawned on me. Right then and there, I knew… in my bones I knew… there’d never be another man, alive or dead, for me. The glisten of blood in his hair, sent shivers down my spine. His eyes were the same grayish white as early morning fog along the piers.

I rested a moment to collect myself while Fred ate his fill of the panda. The commotion attracted more undead to the feast, but I was already drenched in Fred’s musk so I felt I didn’t have anything to worry about. One of the innumerable advantages to being with the undead.

I knew we would need shelter, somewhere lots of folks wouldn't be. I know they wouldn't understand, not like you do. With the island going down the toilet, it only made sense to find a hideaway. The subway tunnels were a natural fit for our needs, just a little love nest hideaway.

When I took Fred down the stairs to the tunnels, the naughty dickens managed to give me a little love bite on my wrist. Barely scratched the surface, take a look. It's turned a lovely shade of purple now. Doesn't even hurt and my eyes have finally begun to turn a soft milky white like his.

I forgot to mention, it's our 6-month anniversary. I really must insist you stick around. We'd love to have you for dinner...