You Are The Wilderness

Chapter 13 - Goodbye Sophia

Rick's POV

            I was heading to our tent when Lori pulled me aside saying she needed to talk to me. I sighed; I thought we were clear on the Hershel situation. She dragged me away from the camp and then just stood there looking at me.

            "What's up?" I asked baffled and curious.

            "We can't leave. I'm pregnant." she said, the expression on her face unreadable. I just stood there trying to process what I just heard.

            "You're what?" I asked not waiting for her response. "And you're telling me this why?"

            "I need you." she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and started towards me. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the look in my eyes.

            "I'm sorry but I still don't see how this is my responsibility," I started aggravated. "You've been shacking up with Shane behind my back all this time, not even having a decency to say anything, just sneaking around hoping I wouldn't notice. And yet, this morning, you were in my face for not telling you about Hershel." I added incredulously. "I don't care who you're sleeping with, not anymore, but I still don't understand what you want me to do about this. You're pregnant? Talk to Shane, it's not my problem anymore." I realized I was being too harsh but I've had enough of it at that point.

            "We broke up," she said quietly. "Before we got to the farm. I ended it with him because he's not the one I want to be with." she said. I had no idea what to say to that so I just walked away slamming the gate behind me. I felt like my skull was going to split in half. I was really pissed at Lori at that moment, yet I still felt sort of responsibility towards her. She was a family after all.

            I walked into our tent to find Kiara sitting pensively on the cot. I took off my holster belt and smashed it against the chair stronger than I intended making her jump up.

            "What happened?" she asked concerned. I just sat down next to her not sure where to start; the magnitude of what just Lori told me starting to sink in.

            "Lori's pregnant," I said looking at her. She didn't seem surprised.

            "I know," she said making me look at her incredulously. "I went with Maggie and Glenn on a pharmacy run today, that's how I learned. I was just thinking about the right way to tell you. Does Shane know?"

            "You knew about Shane and her?" I asked irritated. "Why didn't you say anything?"

            "I, I wanted to but," she started stuttering, flustered probably because of my tone, but I didn't have any energy left to try to keep my temper anymore.

            "But what?!" I snapped at her.

            "Just hear me out. The day we found the church, I overheard their conversation. That's how I learned. I wanted to tell you but then Carl got shot and everything was happening so fast and it just slipped my mind completely. I'm so sorry." she said and reached out her hand towards me but I flinched. I was so angry I needed to get out of there so I just stormed off.

            I took a long walk to calm my nerves. I realized I was awful to Kiara even though she did nothing wrong and I hated myself for it. I felt so stupid for snapping out at her like that.

            It was getting dark so I went back to our tent wanting to apologize and fearing her reaction. What if she sends me away? I couldn't even bear the thought of that but I had to make things right. I stepped inside to find her sleeping huddled up in a ball, her face tearstained. "Now you've made her cry, you asshole" I mentally scolded myself. I sat next to her on the cot and shook her lightly. She whimpered a little clearly not happy about being waken up.