"I'm going to be a nurse."
"Okay, Maria."
"Mom! I'm serious!"
"Sweetheart, how are you going to be a nurse if you get woozy at the sight of blood?"
"When someone I love is in need I want to be able to help them."
"And you are the perfect person to do that."
The echoes of my mom's laugh is still ringing in my head when I wake up.
...
I sit up and look around. Micheal is laying next to me asleep. Scotty and Daniel are also asleep. Sierra is laying near Chris, I see her knife clutched in her hand. Just in case the surgery didn't go well. The only one awake is Nick.
"You alright, girl?"
"Maria."
"What?"
"Don't call me girl. My name is Maria."
He rolls his eyes and move is gun more comfortably on his lap.
"Well didn't mean to offend."
I glare at him.
"Look sorry. It's been awhile since we've been around a girl. Sierra don't count."
"How do you guys know each other?"
"I've known Sierra my whole life. She was my best friend for years, nothing more before you ask, I saved her from her dead boyfriend in the beginning."
I nod for him to continue.
"Scotty found us on the road. He was about to jump off the roof when he found his fiancé eaten up. We just gave him a reason to live."
"And Daniel?"
"Daniel. He saved our asses from being eaten. Blew up 5 cars to get their attention. Sierra fixed up his arm. I think he stays around to repay her."
"And you?"
"I- don't judge." He waits until I nod. "I was in prison. My wife said some things that got me locked up. Some good soul let us out of our cells. I was able to get out by sheer dumb luck. Most of my prison mates weren't able to." He shrugs but doesn't meet my eyes.
"So you went straight to Sierra?"
"My mom and dad are in another state, kind of disowned me for getting married so young. My little brother...well he's gone now."
There is silence between us before I speak again.
"I lost my little brother too."
"It's hard. Younger siblings, we were supposed to protect them and couldn't."
I begin to tear up thinking out my younger brother. Aaron, he was always on my side.
...
"Mom doesn't think I can be a nurse."
"You'll prove her wrong. You'll become a nurse out of solid spite. Even if you have to pass out in the back room after seeing blood."
"I'm oddly touched."
...
I smile thinking of that conversation.
"I'm glad you found your friend" I say to him.
"I'm glad you found your love." He glances over at Chris.
I look over him as well. Sierra is awake checking his stitches.
"Me too."