Self Inflicted

19

Rick opened the door and let her in, Michonne. I put my gun down quickly and embraced her tightly. I cried and so did she, we both whimpered to each other.

"I thought I had lost you," a shaky breath escapes my lips.

"You're not that lucky," she mumbles into my shoulder. I let go and allow Carl to hug her, she ruffles his hair and he has the biggest smile on his face. Rick is smiling at the sight of his son happy.

We settle down for the night, most of the day was spent inside with Michonne. We got her some food, a place to sleep, and cleaned up. We went to bed laying beside each other on different mattresses and I feel so much more at home, but something is still missing. I needed this win, I need Michonne.

-

Morning comes back around and we're all up, Carl poured me a bowl of dry cereal that I took into the living room to sit on the couch with while he and Michonne are sitting at the table. There is some laughter erupting from the kitchen and I smile to myself.

I keep eating some dry and stale Frosted Flakes, wondering about what's next. Whether we'll stay here or try to find someplace else, there has to be a goal. There has to be something out there, whether we make it happen or it's already there.

Michonne, Carl, and I decided to go look for food and told Rick we would be back by noon. We insisted that Rick rest and he gave Carl his gun for protection, just incase.

-

We were leaving a house we cleared and collected from and Carl was very solemn. "Want some string cheese? I'll even let you have the first go," Michonne offered with a grin.

"No thanks," he relied dully. Michonne frowned as we approached the upcoming house and then a smirk grew on her face. She started spraying the string cheese in her mouth and down her face, then she stuck her arms out and starting growling like a walker. I gave her a smile and Carl just kind of looked at her funny, so she wiped off the cheese and followed him up the steps to the next house.

"You may not find me funny, but toddlers think I'm hilarious," she cockily smiles.

"I was laughing on the inside," Carl gives her a pathetic look. "Toddlers?"

"Yeah, kids between the ages two and four think I'm very funny."

"It's true, she'll make them cry laughing," I chuckle.

"What do you mean toddlers?" Carl pushes.

"I had a son, and he happened to find me very funny. He was a trouble maker just like you," she playfully pokes at Carl. Michonne opens the door to the house and we walk into a fairly untouched living room.

"Wait you had a son? You never told me that! How old was he? How old were you? What happened?" Carl starts rambling off questions.

"Okay," Michonne cuts him off. "I'll answer one question at a time, one room at a time, and only after we've cleared it."

"This one's clear," Carl hints. "What was his name?"

"Andre, his name was Andre Anthony," she gives Carl a weak smile.

-

We continued clearing and Carl asked more questions, but after a couple more houses we decided to head back. Rick would get really worried if we were late. We had a bag full of little things to eat, some candy bars and other things. We're almost back to the house and can see the porch, and then Rick sprints toward us with a gun.

"Run!" He whisper shouts to us. We turn and just take off running into the woods, jumping over branches and weaving through the trees. Eventually we slow down and walk through the woods, Rick explained what happened to us and we knew we had to keep moving. We make our way to some tracks and decide to follow those, it was clear and we were far from those men. There is a train car stopped on the tracks and we walk up to it, a poster is hanging from it. It reads "Terminus- those who arrive survive."

"What do you think?" Michonne looks between Rick and I.

"We do it," I nod. Rick rips off his bandage covering his knuckles and looks at all of us.

"Let's go," he then begins nodding. "Let's go." We keep heading down the tracks toward our destination, where the tracks meet from all different directions. A sanctuary, hope. There would be others there, maybe some of our people too.

-

We've been walking along the tracks for a day or so, stopping last night to rest. We still have a bit of food left and some water. Michonne and Carl have been placing bets on the candy, right now they're walking on top of the tracks on either side seeing who will fall off first. Rick is up ahead of the three of us, determination on his mind.

"We have about a days worth of water left," the man says to no one in particular because as he turns around he stops to see his son and best friend messing around. "What are you doing?" There is intention but also playfulness in the man's voice.

"Winning a bet," Carl grins.

"In your dreams," Michonne coos.

"I'm still on," Carl then throws a hand out toward Michonne and almost falls off, earning a chuckle from me and his father.

"Spoke too soon wise guy," the woman chuckles as they both balance.

"This might go on awhile, maybe we can speed this up," Rick walks back to where they are on the tracks.

"Yeah, you're right. Shouldn't be fooling around, we should probably-Carl!" Michonne shouts and throws a hand at Carl, but loses her balance and falls off instead. Carl laughs and hops off the tracks.

"I win, pay up," he holds an empty hand out toward Michonne who has a sad look on her face. She reaches in her bag and pulls out two candy bars, trying to hide the Big Cat. "Is that really the last Bog Cat?" Carl ponders for a couple seconds before reaching for the Big Cat and Michonne whines.

"Hey, but you said, winner's choice," he gloats and grabs the candy bar.

"Go ahead, take it, it's yours. You won it, fair and square," she grumbles. Carl breaks it in half and hands her the other half, she gives him a sweet smile.

"Alright you two, let's get going," I chuckle and shake my head, turning around and continuing on our path.