Even in the darkest of times, laughter reminds us we’re still alive— and giving up is neither the right answer nor a choice

“Answer the damn question, young man. Before I knock some sense into your thick skull.” Andy growled. But everyone laughed it off since he didn’t sound serious.

Andy reddened and blushed.

But instead of tension, laughter filled the room. Even Sophie giggled softly, shaking her head.

Kennedy raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, while I smirked at Andy’s failed attempt at being intimidating.

Andy’s face reddened immediately. “What the hell are you all laughing at?” He grumbled, crossing his arms. “I was being serious, damn it.”

Sophie patted his arm affectionately. “Oh, hush, dear. You couldn’t knock sense into a fly.”

That only made me and Kennedy chuckle even more.

Andy scowled but couldn’t hide the twitch of amusement at the corner of his lips. “Bunch of ungrateful brats,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head and aggressively munching on his dry meat.

“By the way…” Andy cleared his throat and shot him a pointed look. “What exactly was in that blue stuff you poured all over the girl?”

Just like that, the laughter in my throat died.

Kennedy’s smirk faded too, and the lighthearted atmosphere cracked—just a little.

My fingers curled against my lap as I glanced at Kennedy. He was silent, his expression unreadable once more.

“Well?” Andy pressed. “I’m asking because I don’t know about you, but I’ve never in these 4 years of chaos seen someone survive a zombie bite before.”

The room went quiet again.

Sophie, who had been smiling just moments ago, now looked at me with a soft, concerned gaze. I swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of the bandage on my arm.

Kennedy finally exhaled. “Like I told her,” he said, his voice steady but careful. “I found it in an abandoned truck just like you and Sophie saw. No label, no instructions. Just a guess, a risk.”

Andy narrowed his eyes. “And you thought, ‘Why not pour this mystery juice on the girl and hope for the best?’”

Kennedy didn’t even blink. “Yeah, it smelled strong. So I thought she’ll die anyway so why not try it.”

Andy stared at him for a long moment before throwing his hands in the air. “You’re a damn lunatic.”

Kennedy shrugged. “Did it work or not?”

Andy huffed, but Sophie smiled warmly. “Well, whatever it was, we’re just grateful it did.”

Andy grumbled something under his breath before reaching for another piece of dried meat. “Still think you’re a reckless bastard,” he muttered.

Kennedy smirked. “Noted, old man.”

I stayed quiet, staring at the table. The conversation had lightened again, but my mind was still stuck on one thing.

Kennedy knew more than he was saying.

And I wasn’t going to let it go.

Some time passed and none of us could fall asleep. Andy began singing for his lovely wife, Sophie.

“Andy…How did you and Sophie meet?” I questioned him or them.

Sophie patted Andy’s thigh and spoke herself with a grin.

“The first time we met, he was covered head to toe in chocolate syrup and whipped cream. And no, it wasn’t some fancy dessert date—it was because I ran into him. Literally.

It was the hottest summer ever, and I was just a 14-year-old kid who wanted ice cream. I wasn’t paying attention, too busy counting my coins, when BAM—I smacked right into this poor guy carrying the biggest sundae I’d ever seen. And guess where it landed? All over his shirt, his jeans, even his shoes. He looked like a walking banana split.

I was mortified. Absolutely ready to start digging my own grave right there in the pavement. And what did I say? Not ‘Sorry.’ Not ‘Are you okay?’ No, I blurted out—‘Well… at least you won’t need to cool off anymore!’ Like an absolute idiot.

His friends lost it, laughing so hard they could barely breathe. And Andy? He just stood there, staring at me with this dumbfounded look, like he was deciding whether to strangle me or laugh. Then, finally, he smirked and said, ‘Guess you owe me a new sundae, huh?’

Ever since then we began to see each other, talk and even go on small dates” She chuckled and let out a soft sigh.

“ON TOP OF IT! I was 20 years old, and she was 14—just like she JUST mentioned”

Me and Kennedy both let out a gasp, our jaws open wide.

“How are you not in jail?” Kennedy laughed, choking on his water.

Andy shrugged and cackled as well. “I didn’t know! She always claimed, “I’m 18, I’m 18” and I believed her.” He paused and looked at his wife, looked down on her hand, grabbed it and playfully bit her.

Sophie laughed, fighting back.

I and Kennedy sat across them. He was wearing a disgusted look that was barely visible. I looked away and could feel their happy marriage, with a big smile on my face I held back my tears. How cute is that??

“How did you not know that she might be younger, old man?” Kennedy questioned with sarcasm.

“Well you know, young man, you don’t judge anyone by looks or lies. Everyone has their reasons, and my wife’s reason was— the crush on me” He flexed and flaunted his time-touched hair.

“And told me about it once she truly turned 18 years old.”

Sophie laughed with a wide smile on her beautiful face. “Too late to leave me now, haha”

“That’s so cute, I wish I will meet my man just like you met each other.” I huffed softly.

“As if anyone would want a gremlin like you.” Kennedy muttered, sipping on his water.

The room went quiet and I was dumbfounded.

SIIPPPPP. he sipped.

“YOU DAMN IDIOT! I HATE YOU!!” I smacked his head and pinched his arm.

He let out a gasp and pinched me in response.

Andy and Sophie laughed aside.

“How cute is that?” Sophie chuckled.

Andy wiped a fake tear from the corner of his eye. “Ah, young love. So violent.”

Sophie patted his knee. “Reminds me of us, dear.”

Andy scoffed. “You never hit me. You just ruined my favorite shirt.”

Sophie smirked. “And stole your heart.”

Kennedy rolled his eyes. “Enough with the old people romance.”

Andy leaned forward, squinting at him. “Jealous, are we?”

Kennedy snorted. “Of what? Having my favorite meal dumped on me by a fourteen-year-old liar?”

Andy chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ll understand when you get old, kid.”

Kennedy smirked. “Nah, I plan on dying before I start looking like you.”

Sophie gasped, smacking Andy’s arm playfully. “Andy, don’t just sit there—say something!”

Andy shrugged. “I mean, I do look like a shriveled potato now.”

I laughed, while Sophie groaned, muttering something about men and their self-esteem.

Kennedy stretched his arms behind his head, looking at me smugly. “So, gremlin, still dreaming about finding a love story like theirs?”

I huffed. “Not if my man’s gonna look like you.”

Kennedy put a hand over his heart. “Ouch. You wound me.”

Andy grinned. “She’s got fire. That’s good.”

Sophie nodded. “And you,” she said, looking at Kennedy, “are a little menace.”

Kennedy just winked. “Flattery will get you nowhere, ma’am.”

Sophie sighed, shaking her head, and Andy just chuckled. “You two bicker like a married couple already.”

I froze, feeling my face heat up.

Kennedy immediately made a face of pure disgust. “Okay, now that’s enough with the old people romance.”

Andy and Sophie just laughed as Kennedy and I simultaneously gagged in exaggerated horror.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt… warm. Safe. Like despite everything, even in this apocalypse, there was still room for laughter.

I wish time could stop right here, like this.