Chapter 80: Holding Memories

                                    

                                          
With final preparations being made and set, Nina found herself in her bedroom trying to mentally prepare herself for what soon was to come. After taking a rather long soak in the bath, Nina had to stop herself from falling asleep in the warm water. 
Feeling the water sitting calmly against her skin was comforting. It was like a warm blanket she felt safe under. But as the water began to cool and the cold started to settle, Nina couldn't help but feel that her warm blanket was being cruelly taken away from her. She laid in the bath with only her neck above the water before the cold became too much. Her pruned fingers and toes were a sign she had been in there for long enough. 
Getting out of the bath as she hung her towel against her body, Nina wiped the steam off the mirror before staring at her own reflection. She was stunned to notice how grey she was. The color of her rich mocha skin seemed faded as her eyes hung. She barely even recognized herself anymore. It may have only been a week, but it felt like a century to the poor woman. She examined her face, saddened by how aged it had appeared. 
Yawning as she struggled to keep her eyes opened, Nina turned her tap on to cold water before splashing her face. She hoped the cold water would be enough to force her body awake and yet it barely made a difference. She felt physically weak and her mind was barely holding itself together. 
Groaning as she dried her face with the towel wrapped around her body, Nina was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Give me a minute." She said aloud to the person knocking trying to cover herself up.
"Everything alright in there?" Alex's voice emerged from beyond the door.
"Yeah...I'm fine. I just need a minute." Nina said as she grabbed a hold of her heavy head.
"Alright we'll Lauren just wanted me to tell you she's leaving for the night. She's going home to see Alia and Rose before we leave tomorrow."
"Is Lain still here?" She asked.
"No, she tagged along with Lauren so she could see Faye again. They should be back tomorrow morning with everything we need."
"Why didn't you join them? Don't you want to go see Zander?" Nina asked confused why he didn't join the others. 
"I was just with Z. He won't mind that I've stayed behind. Besides I'm more concerned about you right now Nina. Anyways if you need me I'll be making dinner." The man said before leaving the woman to her own company.
Hearing his footsteps vanish in the distance, Nina inhaled sharply as she grabbed hold of the doorknob and stepped out letting the remaining steam smoke out of the room. Throwing on a pair of shorts and an oversized shirt, the woman didn't even care when she realized she had placed her shirt on backwards.
With the tag touching her chest, Nina just rolled her eyes as she left her clothes the way they were. She was too tired to fix it. Dragging her feet behind her as she started walking out of her room, Nina walked slower than usual as her eyes were half open.
Hearing Nina approaching in the distance as he began cutting up the vegetables for dinner, Alex stopped the moment he saw a zombie in front of him. "Um...Nina?" He questioned when the woman casually walked past him taking a seat at the dinning table. "You know you're shirts on backwards, right?"
"Yup." She dragged out laying her head against the table as her arms laid lifelessly by her sides. She didn't understand why these past few nights seemed to be draining her more than usual. Hoping it would pass once Kaila was home safe and sound, the woman was motivated to keep pushing through her struggles. She just needed Kaila home then she'd be back to her normal self.
"Why don't you go lay in bed? I'll bring you some dinner when it's done." Alex offered seeing what a horrible state Nina was in.
"No it's alright. I'll help make dinner, I just need to sit down for a second first." She said while dragging out each syllable as she slowly started standing up. Moving her limbs like they were attached to rusty gears, she looked almost robotic moving the way she did.