|Missing Love|

Chapter 26

*Shelby's P.O.V*

The sound of a baby crying is what woke me up. I carefully got out of the bed that I was laying on and walked over to the crib that was near the edge of the bed. Adam had woken up and was crying.

I tried to get more sleep out of my eye before I picked him up. "Hey, buddy."

I cradled him to my chest and just slowly rubbed his back.

And I know that he needs a diaper change because I can smell it. It didn't smell great either, just saying.

I laid him down on the changing table and got a fresh new diaper and the baby wipes.

I unbuttoned the bottom of his onesie and then opened his diaper. There was poop but it's not like I haven't done this before, I have.

Using the baby wipes, I cleaned the poop off of him before drying his butt before putting on a new diaper.

Then I took off the onesie that he was wearing and put on another one on him. It was a grey one.

I picked him up and held him as I left the room that Alden and I were sharing.

So Alden and I officially live in Alexandria. Since Hilltop has been burned down, we had to live in another community and Alexandria is the only place we have left to live at. My brother was excited though to have me be here.

Aaron always wanted me to live in Alexandria and it's finally happening.

I walked out of the house that Alden and I were sharing. I could see Alden currently talking to Judith.

Hmm.. I wonder what they were talking about.

I sat down on a bench while I still held Adam in my arms.

Alden and I were taking care of Adam at the moment while we waited for Earl to come here. I mean, that's Adam's dad so he would have to come here any day. It's only been two days since we arrived here.

It feels weird to be honest to be living here and it's not that I hate the community. I've just gotten used to living at Hilltop.

Looking down at Adam, I smiled at him while he was making baby noises.

I have this kind of connection with this baby. I also just think it's because I've babysat him so many times.

I love this kid.

A couple more minutes went by before Alden started walking over to me. He had a bit of a sad look on his face.

What happened?

"Hey." He said as he sat down next to me.

"Hey." I said, while looking at him. "What's wrong?"

He sighed and then looked back at me. "I was just talking to Judith and she was telling me some news."

"What news?" I questioned.

"Earl's dead."

As soon as he said that, I had a hard time processing it. What? How did that happen? How did Earl die?

This can't be happening right now.

"How?" I asked.

"It would appear that when the whisperer war was happening, he got bit by a walker. Then when he took the kids to safety, he tried to put himself out of misery. He tried to put his head through a wooden stake in which it didn't work. Then Judith had to be the one to put him down." Alden explained.

"Wait, Judith, had to be the one to put him down?" I questioned.

Alden nodded. "She was the one that went to check on him after a while."