“It'd only be serious if someone got knocked unconscious by a door. But if they were stupid enough to be in front of a door and get themselves knocked out, then it's their own damn fault and not at all serious.” A very cynical way to view things, but it was true, at least she believed it. It was also spoken with humor.
Leah smirked proudly. “That doesn't surprise me. She's always been a genius. At least in our family, anyway.” Miah's passing mention of the old lab brought about a reaction that was common for those who'd been close to people involved in the incident; a slight wilting of the smile, a tinge of sadness. It was only by luck that Lilah hadn't been there that day. “Good. That's good. The lab needed to be reestablished eventually. Thankfully it's outside the compound this time. You guys get more freedom out there, I'm sure.”
It was always refreshing meeting someone who wasn't familiar with the person she used to be. A clean slate, almost. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like, being in a different place, no one knowing who she was. Being able to start all over again. She couldn't imagine ever leaving New York altogether, though. Zombie-filled or not, it was her home. “I am,” she admitted. “Makes it easier to talk to people when they never got to meet the old me.”
Leah nodded, completely understanding that sentiment. “It's both a good and bad thing. On the one hand, focusing on yourself and the people close to you should come first, but on the other hand... we're supposed to be a colony, a group of people who work together, live together, fighting the same fight against the zombies and everyone else who want to take what's ours. So, it's irritating, but I understand how people can be self-centered.”
“Good to know,” Leah said, after a soft chuckle. “Next time I need help with something, I'll try not to hit someone with a door first.”
Curiosity didn't bother her like it used to. She wasn't as closed off to conversation anymore, nor was it awkward like most idle chitchat tended to be. And the fact that Miah was expressing a genuine interest in how Evan was recovering didn't hurt either. Hearing positive interest was infinitely better than those spray-painted messages that were still cropping up here and there, although not as frequently as they had been. “He's doing better. They let him come home early, so I've been doing the nurse thing and all of the daily food runs.” Usually they took turns, but Leah was doing them all now. Unless someone else volunteered to do it. “And I suppose I am feeding a small army. There's four of us, so... Well, almost four of us.”