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H E R
"He's still not up?" Michonne appeared in the archway of the kitchen in that silent way of hers.
I glanced out the window above the sink, through the frilly hems of the curtains I could just make out the sun appearing through the braches of trees. It had cleared up since the night before's rainstorm, leaving the sky all different shades of pink, cream, and tangerine. It was a bit after dawn and everyone else in the house was up and about. Except Carl.
"Guess not." I replied.
"Well, that's good. He hasn't slept much in the past few weeks. I didn't think he'd ever sleep again after what happened the other night." Michonne crossed through the kitchen, opening her pack on top of the island, searching through it before producing a jar of peanut butter. "And he's a growing boy. Let him sleep as late as he wants."
"Yeah." I agreed, then I randomly added: "This is so crazy."
"What is?"
"Us all being together again. I never thought it would happen."
Michonne nodded, scooping some peanut butter out with finger. "What happened with you? After the prison? How'd you find your way back to us?"
I shrugged. "I got knocked out." Didn't say by who. "When I came to, it was night, and everyone was gone. The whole place was smoldering and the dead were everywhere. So, I just left."
"All by yourself?"
"Yeah." I couldn't help the tense that overtook my body at just the memory of it all. "I just kinda meandered around. I felt like I was waiting for something. I kept thinking... I'd find someone. And I was in this house when that group came in, I was going to just move along, but Daryl was with them. I followed them for maybe a week, or two, I don't know. I didn't keep track. I thought they were all shady but I knew if Daryl was there, that there was some hope, at least."
Michonne offered me the jar, which I took gratefully, supplying myself with a finger full of the peanut butter. "And he led you right to us."
"He did." I nodded. "Even if it was a...strange reunion."
Then she smiled at me. God, Michonne was absolutely lovely. I remember how back at the prison, I had been so intimidated by her, she had seemed so mysterious, tough, and way too important for me to ever approach. But then she brought me sudoku books and candy bars simply because she did so for Carl and didn't want me to be left out. And now she was smiling at me like I meant something. Like she was glad I had survived and was with them.
