The New Normal
Ididn't know then that things were only just starting.I didn't know then that the mess we were recovering and rebuilding from would be the first in a series of ongoing struggles that would decide the fate of the world itself.
I only knew I was ready for things to get back to normal.
Channel 15 News was on in the breakroom at Feedworthy.Feedworthy was my job, the highlight of and bane of my existence.A place where I was paid a living wage to do work I loved, but a place that laid a burden on me at the same time.A burden of perpetually churning out coverage.A burden of adding to the digital age yet more data that allowed clicks and likes and helped some digital giant somewhere rack up consumer information so that they could target ads.I was a big-timer in the Information Age, had one of the well-paid jobs in the gig economy, and what's more, my big boss from DDM had just died.In respect to his memory, we retired the idea of a vlog series on urban legends in the city; and I was left to write my articles on the same subject matter in relative peace.
My assistant Gabe met me in the breakroom.We sipped on green tea and stood together quietly; the coffee pot in the corner a destitute mess that hadn't been touched in over a month by anyone with any sense.
We watched the news anchors smile and gab with one another about the mass-food poisoning incident in their professional suits.It was a story Gabe and I had constructed together to cover up what really happened—and in the quick strides to cover up anything else being out of the ordinary, the Feds had taken it and ran with it.It wasn't too far off base.Whatever dark magic was soaked into the coffee creamer delivered city-wide had poisoned endocrine systems, killing humans city-wide, and bringing them back as ravenous members of the undead.
William Corcoran, a Necromancer with a grudge against me, had done it.He'd poisoned the city.He was Gabe's ex-boyfriend and my old foe.He had been banished forever to Topside by the Regional Council, as the witch who'd trapped his soul had said.It should have been comforting, I knew, but it wasn't.Not just because I didn't get closure—but because I wasn't sure what Topside was.Nobody would explain it to me directly.They just muttered under their breath and made a series of holy symbols in the air before them.
In truth, I was pretty much done with the idea of adventure.At the end of this latest one, I was banged up, put on trial, framed, and almost executed for everything.This was after a full-blown Chicago-wide zombie apocalypse, mind you, and even traveling back in time to wrap up my own loose ends.The idea of an average day in the office scrolling through client emails and penning their conspiracy theories into something plausible was about the most appealing thing I could think of to do with my time.
I think everyone in the city was feeling that way if I were being honest.Stores had begun to reopen quietly; windows replaced, electronics fixed.More and more cars and public modes of transportation had come onto the street, but everything was still a ghost town.There was an air of anxiety on everyone's face when they were in public.Most coffee joints had been shut down.It was a total shift in the public consciousness.Even when I got cravings for the brown stuff, it was easier and easier to do without.I just had too many memories.
"Heard there's some bars reopening next weekend," Gabe said, sipping his matcha.
"You gonna go?"I asked.
"Probably not," he said."I've just been staying at home at night and coming to work.Life's pretty boring, but it's been safe, at least."
"Safe," I said.
We both laughed.
"How are the men in your life?"Gabe asked me.
"The boys?"I asked.
"Yeah.Your little vampire troupe."
"Don't get me started," I said."Eddie and Vic, we're still dating, but they've both been distracted.Brother Al hasn't spoken to me in a month.And Nagisa…" I shook my head."I don't know what's going on with him."
"Love is complicated," Gabe said.And then: "I'm thinking about taking a vow of celibacy."
"What?"I asked."Why would you do that?"
"My last boyfriend poisoned the whole city while I unknowingly helped him advertise the stuff that did it.I'm starting to think my libido is just going to lead me to trouble."
"I resonate with that sentiment," I said."All my libido's done is get me involved with too much crap."
"We could join an Abbey together," he said."Do they have unisex abbeys?"
"Maybe in Tibet," I said.
"I don't know that orange is my color," Gabe said.
"It's really not," I said.
We laughed together for some time until we both started tearing up, and then we stood in silence for a little longer until someone else shuffled into the room.
"Are things ever going to feel normal again?"Gabe asked, after some time.
"I keep wondering the same thing," I said.
The news anchor's teeth were bright and shining on the flat-screen.I couldn't help but stare at how fake his smile looked.
