(Begin)
After the incident with the woman, Howard gradually came to accept his new life with Michelle and Emmet. He stopped thinking about the outside world, how he could escape, whether or not Beth was still alive. Instead, he spent his days playing games, watching movies, cleaning the bunker, maintaining the water filters, fixing furniture, and whatever else Michelle asked him to do.
One day, as he prepared to eat his lunch on the couch, Howard was surprised to see Michelle walk up to him wearing sweatpants. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her wear anything other than her usual pair of jeans.
"Want to help me with something?"
"Sure. What is it."
"My stitches popped. Seeing as how you gave them to me, I think it only fair that you replace them. You know how to sew, right?"
"Yes. But I've never sewn a medical stitch before."
"Relax. I'll guide you through it."
Michelle led him to the table, where her first-aid kit was waiting. She poured some water in a mug and gave it to Howard.
"This smells too strong to be water."
"That's because its actually vodka. That I made myself. Tastes like acid, but it's the only alcohol I have."
Howard took a sip. "Maybe if you put some ice in it?"
"Don't have any. I can do this, however."
She sprayed the mug with a light burst of liquid nitrogen. "Little trick I learned in the Navy."
She handed it back. "Want to try?"
"No thanks."
"Fine. More for me."
As she continued to finish her drink, Howard worked fast to sew up the gaping scar on her forehead. With a few directions from Michelle, he was able to finish relatively quickly.
"Good work. Michael would be proud."
"Who's Michael?"
"My father. He died two years ago. Cancer, if I remember correctly."
She retrieved an old scrapbook from her private quarters. "Here's his picture."
"He looks good for his age."
"You know, he always wanted to go to Paris. Something about that old city enchanted him."
"He'd be proud of you. Not many people your age would know how to survive an apocalypse."
"I don't know. He didn't like that I had to dig up his barn floor to build this old thing."
Suddenly, Emmet ran into the room.
"Something's wrong."
(Stop)