» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» HOW IT'S GOTTA BE «

I've Loved, And I've Loved, And I've...

I sliced a fingernail through the stem of the daisy, threading a second one inside it until the petals brushed my fingers. I connected the ends with a knot, delicately holding it in my hand as Judith toddled towards me, her mesmerised eyes directed at the crown of flowers.

I twisted onto my back, pulling myself into a sitting position and handing her the daisy chain with a smile. It soon spread into a wide grin as she settled it around the brown material of Carl's hat, her hands clapping with joy.

"It's pretty." I mumbled bashfully, his soft gaze meeting mine. I could've held that stare for hours, the blue of his eyes never appearing icy, but somehow warm instead.

I cleared my throat when I felt the blush rising in my cheeks, taking a sip of my drink as I looked back at the toddler sitting between us on the picnic blanket.

"Has Judith ever tried soda before?" I raised my eyebrows in question, watching his expression match mine. He poured barely a few millimetres of his drink into a plastic beaker, encouraging Judith to take a sip. She eagerly gulped it down, giggles bubbling from her chest as she finished it off.

"I'll be right back." Carl said as he rushed up the steps and into the house.

Judith scribbled a crayon over a book, her attention firm on the colourful pages. I breathed deeply, my eyes fluttering shut as I let myself lean back. The blanket provided some comfort against the stones and twigs digging into my spine, but they didn't bother me. My mind felt completely empty, the only thought being the sun heating my face and shining through my eyelids.

'I wish it could be like this all the time.'

I startled at the sound of a camera snap, the shutters whirring as a picture printed. My eyes squinted against the light and I saw Carl standing over me, a smirk on his face and a photograph in his fingers.

I sat up as he scanned the image fondly, coming down to my side. My fingers fumbled for the camera, instantly bringing it up to my eye and snapping the lens in Carl's direction, my hand catching the photo as it fell out.

Judith, feeling excluded from the fun, reached her tiny fingers towards the pictures, a pleading look in her eyes. Carl held her in a hug, poking her stomach to make her laugh as I clicked the button down again, capturing the joyful moment forever.

The camera developed picture after picture until it ran out of film, each one floating to the ground as life slowly appeared on the white surface.

Today was the best day in a long time. My cheeks ached from smiling and I wasn't sure if I had ever laughed this much.

My fingers felt around the soil, pushing it back and creating a small hole as Carl delicately placed a growing shrub in by the roots.

"Why this, why today?" I wondered as I brushed the dirt from my hands, resting them against my folded legs.

He subtly shrugged, his lips turned up in a smile. "I'm leaving my mark." His gaze drifted over to Judith, who shovelled the grass messily as she crouched in front of her own plant. He met my eyes again, a soft, knowing expression on his face.

'Tell him. Tell him now.'

My lips parted and my tongue lifted in preparation, the words caught in my throat. I could feel my heart wracking inside my ribs, knocking them harshly like it was trying to escape. The tips of my fingers went prickly and numb, and my palms felt cold and damp as I faltered.

I gulped down a breath of relief when car wheels screeched through the gate, pulling up outside the house. Carl lifted a hand up in a wave as Michonne exited the vehicle, smiling in return.