It’s a screwed up world Joel and Gail live in, so it’s not exactly a normal therapy session that’s about to start when Joel enters Gail’s house. With humanity reduced to shreds by a murderous fungus turning people into zombies for its own evolutionary expansion, nobody has time for pleasantries anymore—and getting to the truth fast has become essential.
For Gail, that means fully indulging—but also openly admitting—her alcohol addiction. Especially on her first birthday without her husband, whom none other than Joel had the “privilege” of shooting once he’d gotten infected. But there’s more to both their stories, and in order to get Joel to open up about his, Gail has to hand out a trust advance.
“I’m scared to say it. Which is why I have to. You shot and killed my husband. And I resent you for it. No. I hate you for it. And, yes, I know you had no choice. I know I should forgive you. Well, I’ve tried, and I can’t. And looking at your face sitting in our home…makes me so fucking angry.
There it is. I’ve said it. I’m ashamed. But it’s in the air and I can’t take it back. And now, maybe there’s a chance I can make things right with you. Your turn.”
Yikes. Not exactly a happy ending, is it? Is this even still therapy? Or should Joel slowly back out the door? In a crazy world, crazy becomes the new normal. And in this case, the new normal works. Joel finally says what he came to Gail five sessions ago to say, if not exactly in terms Gail can fully understand.
The lesson? Let’s try and not have a zombie apocalypse—oh, and as Gail reminds Joel: “You can’t heal something unless you’re brave enough to say it out loud.”
