Stay Inside

by Maria Herring

  ZB: Oh. Okay.

  OFFSCREEN: So, Mx Baker. Can you remember when you got infected?

  She looks unblinking into the camera for several moments.

  ZB: It’s hard. I have pictures. Flashes of before. I remember some people, but I don’t know their names. But I know I know them. I remember cats. I remember a big tree with flowers on. That’s all. I don’t remember getting infected. The doctor says my memories might come back or they might not.

  OFFSCREEN: Do you have any memories of your time as an infected person?

  ZB: I remember pain, everywhere. There was a lot of pain. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know where it came from.

  OFFSCREEN: What’s your first memory since the cure?

  ZB: I remember light. I remember sad. And then lots of noise. They told me I was in a special hospital. They said they were making me better. They said I ate people. But not to me, they said it to each other. And I heard them say it. It made me sad, and I understood the pain. Then you said Maddie died and I should be punished.

  OFFSCREEN: Do you think you should be punished?

  ZB: Something made me sick. Something made me do bad things. Something made me eat people. Then something made me better. And doctors say maybe one day I’ll remember all the things. I don’t want to remember all the things. I don’t think that’s better. Do you think that’s better? Why am I still here?

  Screen fades to black.