Born 01 - Born

tops are high enough that even if I was spied upon, I wouldn’t know who they were and vice versa.
    I look over at Mary as she jumps off the rock. I blush as she enters the water with a big splash. She had been completely naked. I've never seen another naked woman before.
    "So where are your parents?"
    Apparently she has no problem going for the personal details right off the bat.
    I lie back again and watch the sky grow dark blue, as the evening fully starts to set in.
    "My mom died when I was really little. She had cancer."
    "Back then, everyone had cancer."
    "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, she died and it was me and dad and my grandparents. My dad was a survivalist so when things got bad, we got out early. He taught me a lot of things I needed to know."
    "Wow, I heard about those people. I remember hearing my mom and dad call them wing-nuts and crazy."
    I laugh bitterly. "Yeah. That’s how I felt about him. Well, until the infection hit and Japan had those massive earthquakes and the tsunamis hit the West Coast. Then I was pretty impressed at his resources."
    "Did you get separated?"
    I shake my head. "No, we hid at a friend's bunker till we could get out of the urban areas. We were on our way to my grandparent’s cabin when we were in an accident. He was pinned under the jeep. The hunters were coming. He told me to run."
    I don’t look at her. I have always been ashamed of that moment.
    "After he was taken, I was on a hillside and I heard a gunshot. I knew it was him. I ran for weeks until I got to the cabin. I was there alone until a few weeks ago."
    She splashes me. I look up at her grin and frown. "How many times have you swam in the last ten years?"
    I feel confused and lost in the conversation suddenly. "Um, three times. Once I was being chased by the infected. I've crossed rivers lots, though."
    She laughs. "How great is this moment?"
    I'm annoyed by her randomness, but I nod. "Really amazing."
    Her eyes are glassy under the light of the dark sky. "Then leave the rest of it where it happened. They ruined everything ten years ago. We can't let them ruin the future, too." She splashes me again.
    The anger is sucked out of me. She's right. I've lived afraid of making friends and helping people.
    Suddenly a noise rips through the air. I turn as several people jump into the water. The waves and splashing take over the lagoon.
    "Oh my God, it's freezing." I see a blonde girl who's a little older than me next to me. Her teeth chatter. I realize suddenly mine are chattering. I see a huge hand come up behind her and push her face under the water. I swim away quickly in a panic. A young guy laughs as she breaks the surface and shoves him. "Ass."
    They're playing in the water. Memories of people playing in the water flood my mind.
    "Kim, you know you love me." He pulls her into his embrace and kisses her with force. Suddenly, she is pressed against him and they're kissing like people did in the movies, before.
    I feel someone swimming up behind me. I turn suddenly to see a huge hand coming for my head. I try to swim away but my foot is grabbed. I am sucked under. I panic, kicking as hard as I can. My legs are pulled back, and I'm squished into a warm body. I swallow water before I'm able to break the surface. I push on the skin I touch and force my head above the water in a panic.
    I hear a man's voice over the sounds of my own choking. "Jesus, calm down. Are you okay?"
    I sputter and cough. I feel sick but also terrified. I never drink water that isn’t boiled or fresh from my wells. Anyone of them could have the infection. It could be in the water. I swim for the big rock and pull myself up onto the platform. I lie on my stomach against the cold stone. My skin trembles and shivers.
    "Hey, are you okay?"
    I look over at Mary at the edge of the rock. I nod and push myself up. I pick up my clothes and run up the hill toward the tents.
    "Asshole."
    "What?"
    "Mark, you have to be careful. She's lived alone since she was a kid. She doesn’t get it."
    "I didn’t mean to."
    I run faster to get away from their voices. I feel like a freak. I make my way to the nearest fire. I am alone, until I feel the warm breath at my hip. His cold nose feels warm against my bare skin. I go to pull on my stinky dirty clothes but Mary is suddenly there. She holds out a pile.
    "Here." She is dripping wet too. We stand looking at each other in the firelight. She is so beautiful in her soaked dress with the water dripping from her.
    "Thanks."