Liam leaned forward, staring intently at the spoon Lisa handed him. He inspected it as though it were some ancient artifact, turning it over in his hand with a puzzled look on his face. Lisa tried not to laugh. She had no idea teaching someone basic human habits could be this awkward—or entertaining.
"It's just… a spoon, Liam," she explained, stifling a grin. You use it to eat soup. You know, put food in your mouth… chew… swallow?
Liam blinked, his brow furrowing. I don't remember it being this complicated before, he muttered, lifting the spoon a bit too close to his eye.
Lisa bit her lip. This was going to be harder than she'd expected. She watched as he held the spoon at an odd angle and missed his mouth completely, the soup spilling onto his shirt.
Close enough, she said, reaching over with a napkin. At least you're trying.
He flashed her a sheepish grin, his lips stained with a bit of tomato soup, and for a second, her heart softened. She'd missed this—the little moments, the laughs, the way he looked at her like she was the only thing grounding him in this strange new world.
But reality quickly intruded. Every gesture of his, every misstep, was a stark reminder that he wasn't… entirely alive. Liam was alive, yes, but with traces of that other realm clinging to him, like a shadow that wouldn't fully leave.
Okay, Lisa said, trying to reset the moment. Lesson number one: fitting in. If you're going to blend in with, you know, normal people, we need to start with the basics.
Liam cocked his head, looking at her with that curious, unguarded expression he'd perfected since his return. And what does that entail?
Lisa laughed nervously. Let's start with… walking.
Walking? he echoed, as though she'd asked him to fly.
Yes, walking. You're doing this… shuffle thing. She demonstrated, dragging her feet across the floor in an exaggerated mimic of his stiff, shuffling gait. It's… well, it's a bit too much like a zombie.
Liam chuckled, then looked down at his feet. He tried to adjust his posture and took a step forward, but it was awkward, his movements a little too mechanical, like someone trying to remember how limbs worked. Like this?
Better. But let's loosen up a little. She approached him, gently guiding his arms into a more natural swing. He watched her hands on his arms, a strange blend of fascination and hesitation in his eyes. She felt her cheeks grow warm as she realized how close they were.
He leaned forward, his voice low. "It's… weird being this close to you. I feel like I've missed… so much.
Her breath caught. Let's… let's focus on the walking, yeah?
Liam pulled back, giving her a soft, amused smile that made her heart flutter despite everything. But he quickly became serious again, attempting to walk with a more natural stride.
They spent the next hour in a bizarre training session. She taught him how to sit naturally, how to hold a cup without staring at it like it was some mystical object, and even how to blink at a normal rate—since he seemed to either stare without blinking for too long or blink far too often. But every so often, Liam would slip, his movements a bit too rigid or his gaze a bit too unblinking, and Lisa couldn't shake the lingering chill.
Next lesson, she said, trying to stay upbeat. Smiling.
Smiling? he echoed, as though it were the strangest request yet.
Yes, smiling. You're… not doing it right.
He attempted a grin, but it came out stiff and unsettling, like a wax figure's expression. Lisa suppressed a laugh. Nope. Way too creepy.
He looked wounded. It wasn't that bad, was it?
Let's try again. She took his hands, showing him how to relax his face, how to let a natural smile come through. He looked at her, and for a brief moment, something genuine flickered in his eyes. He smiled, not the stiff, forced expression from before, but something warm, almost familiar.
There it is, she said softly, holding his gaze.
But the moment was cut short as he shifted, his hand cold against hers, a reminder of the unspoken reality hanging between them. She dropped his hand, clearing her throat. See? It's not so hard.
He chuckled, though the sadness returned to his eyes. You're a good teacher, Lisa.
The compliment was innocent enough, but it sent a strange pang through her. She wanted to tell him the truth, to tell him how much she'd missed him and the lengths she'd gone to bring him back. But every time she tried, the words seemed to catch in her throat.
Before she could dwell on it, a loud knocking shattered the moment. Lisa's eyes widened, and she motioned for him to stay still. Wait here. I'll check.
Peeking through the peephole, her heart raced as she recognized the visitor: Emily.
Oh no, she whispered. She turned back to Liam, who was watching her with a curious expression.
Who is it? he asked.
It's Emily, she whispered. My best friend. She doesn't… know.
Know about what? he asked, though there was a hint of understanding in his voice.
About you. About… all of this. Her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do. She couldn't let Emily see him—not yet, not like this.
But Emily's voice sounded from behind the door, her tone cheerful and unsuspecting. Lisa! I know you're in there. Open up!
Lisa shot Liam an apologetic look. Just… hide, okay? Please. It's for your own good.
He nodded, moving silently toward her bedroom, but not before casting her one last, questioning look. As he disappeared, Lisa steeled herself, taking a deep breath before opening the door.
Emily breezed in, her usual energy filling the room. Hey! I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by. You look… flustered. Something up?
Nope, just… cleaning,nLisa lied, her voice a bit too high-pitched.
Emily's eyes narrowed, though she quickly shrugged it off. Well, I'll just keep you company then.
Lisa forced a laugh, feeling a fresh wave of panic. She just needed to get Emily out of here before anything went wrong. But with each passing second, she felt the tension growing, a silent weight that hung in the air, reminding her of the secret hiding in her room.
As Emily chatted on, Lisa's mind raced, wondering how long she could keep up the charade—and how long she could keep Liam hidden from the world.