Page 10 of Burning Love

“Wash your hands first, please!” Ellen snapped, pointing to a large bowl of brownish water.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t realize…”

“Didn’t realize? Didn’t realize we don’t want filth and blood and gunge, and God knows what mixed in with our breakfast? I see. I imagine in England bread and filth is quite the delicacy, is it?”

Sophia didn’t speak for a while, but the weight of Ellen’s presence kept her on high alert. The older woman’s large, calloused hands moved quickly and efficiently, and her demeanor was as sharp as her words. Sophia’s mind wandered, her thoughts spinning as she tried to focus on the rhythmic thuds of the knife against the cutting board.

“I might have been wrong about you, girl. You’ve clearly done this before,” Ellen remarked after a while, her voice carrying a hint of approval though it was still matter-of-fact.

Sophia shrugged. She didn’t feel the need to share anything of her life with this woman after the welcome she’d received. She would keep her cards close to her chest with this one. “A little.”

Ellen grunted in acknowledgment. “Keep it up. I’ll make sure to let the major know I’m happy to have you on kitchen duty tomorrow.” Her words came out as an order rather than an offer. Sophia certainly felt that there was no room for argument.

Sophia didn’t reply, though a flicker of something warm passed through her chest.Kitchen duty.It was such a simple thing, yet it felt oddly significant. It was a task she could do, a role she could fill, however small it might be. And it certainly beat running around the place hiding from the undead.

The hours passed quickly as they worked in silence. Throughout the day, people came in for a few slices of bread and a bowl of soup and left without saying much. Nobody seemed to question who Sophia was or what she was doing there. In fact, she noticed that most people had hardly even made eye contact with her.

“It’s just two meals a day. You understand? We’re supposed to keep a list. But God only knows where it’s gotten to. We’ll just have to play it by ear today. Have you got an eye for faces?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Hmm. Make sure you wipe up that flour over there and put it back in the bin. We can’t waste flour.”

As Sophia set down her knife, she realized that her arms were aching. But it felt incredible. Something about Ellen made Sophia feel like she would forever be walking on a tightrope, but she still couldn’t help but feel pleased with her small achievement of a morning’s work.

Ellen wiped her hands on her apron and turned to her, her gaze sharp. “You did good,” she said in her no-nonsense tone. “I’ve got help for this evening, but I expect you to be here tomorrow at the same time.”

Sophia nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. The praise had given her a rush of blood to the head, and for a moment, it eased some of the pent-up tension in her body. But Ellen’s attitude still felt imposing. The woman was clearly a force, and there was something about her that made Sophia feel like she was constantly being sized up and judged. She knew she would have to work hard if she were ever to impress her.

As she was about to leave the tent, she heard boots approaching. The sound was familiar and unmistakable—strong and purposeful, with a rhythm that made her heart beat a little faster. She paused mid-motion and turned slowly to see Alex stepping inside. Her presence was magnetic, commanding attention in a way that made the plates, bowls, utensils, and… well, basically everything around her fade slightly into the background.

Sophia felt a tightening in her chest as Alex’s gaze swept the space before landing on her with a slow, deliberate stare. Her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. There was something about Alex that made Sophia feel not only nervous but also like she was being seen in a way she hadn’t been for a long time.

“Got a minute, Sophia?” Alex asked, her voice low and direct, sending a ripple of warmth through Sophia.

Sophia glanced at Ellen, who waved her off with a muttered, “Go on, new girl. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Hi. Everything okay?” Sophia asked, her eyes meeting Alex’s as she somehow found the courage to speak.

Alex’s expression was unreadable. “I just wanted to check in,” she said simply. Her tone had a strange softness to it. “Ellen must be pleased if she wants you back, right?” she continued with a grin. “Come on, let me show you where you can freshen up.”

They walked in silence for a while as Alex led her toward a quiet courtyard. Sophia’s mind raced with questions she didn’t dare ask. She had no idea why Alex was giving her this attention, but it felt... different. It was as if Alex had seen something in her, and it had made her strangely safe.

“We have solar-powered showers behind that wall. Don’t expect hot water, though. It’s lukewarm at best.”

“Lukewarm sounds like paradise.”

“Ha! I guess it’s better than whatever you’ve had to do out there. So, how’re you finding it all so far?” Alex asked, leaning against the wall once they reached the showers. Her posture was casual, but her eyes were sharp, taking in Sophia as though trying to piece her together.

Sophia hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to communicate her feelings. “It’s different from what I’ve been used to,” she admitted, her voice quieter than she meant it to be. She hoped she wasn’t coming across as weak as she feared.

“How do you mean? Good different or bad different?” Alex prodded, her eyes narrowing slightly as she waited for a response.

Sophia shrugged. “Good, I think.” But the truth was, she was struggling with the weight of everything—the unfamiliar place, the new people she was now surrounded by every minute of the day, the unfamiliar rules and routines. And Alex. Especially Alex. “Well, actually… maybe a little of both,” she said, her arms crossing over her chest instinctively.

Alex nodded. “You’ll get used to it,” Alex said, shifting from one foot to the other as she continued to scrutinize Sophia. “It takes a while to fit in. But you will. Like how we’re all trying to get used to this shitshow of a broken world right now. It’s fucked up, right?”

Sophia didn’t respond right away. Her gaze drifted to Alex’s hands, noticing the roughness of her knuckles and the faded scars. Alex seemed to be comfortable in her skin. She possessed a sense of body acceptance that Sophia had struggled to claim all her adult life.

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