𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗕𝗜𝗔- rick grimes

EIGHTEEN

EIGHTEEN

ARIA BLAKE HAD WITNESSED A LOT of destruction since the dead claimed the earth, snarling and groaning as they chased after you with malicious intent. People take their life for granted, the things they have, and never would expect for it all to be turned upside down in a blink of an eye. That's how fast everything can change, so suddenly without warning.

One minute you lay in the comfort of your own bed inside the house you've lived in for years, content and warm, and the next you're boarding the windows and doors as you pace back and forth with overwhelming worry. The tv screen alarming the whole city, the whole world, as the news broadcasted live events happening around you.

Before your very eyes the whole world can be lit up in flames, dragging anyone into the fire pit it can get its burning grasp on. Aria was one that could tell others she made it out of that burning grasp. As everything around her seemed to keep falling apart, breaking pieces of her heart one by one in increments, she still managed to keep her head above the surface even if she almost slipped under a few times.

The woman, with everything she had went through and seen lately, couldn't help to be a little surprised as she felt a frown forming on her face. Her arms leaned on the makeshift fence they built to keep the pigs inside their home. Her eyes lingered on the pig Carl had named Violet, the one that was now lumped over not breathing indicating it had passed on.

Aria didn't look up from the animal as she heard footsteps walking towards her and a familiar presence accompanying her. The blue eyed woman's brow's furrowed as she leaned further onto the fence. "I guess Violet didn't like this world either."

She could feel his eyes bore into the side of her face, roaming every inch. She didn't budge as it made a shiver go down her spine. Rick sighed either shaking his head at her words or the day he just had, she couldn't tell but she decided not to ask as she knew he was deep in thought now.

Silence consumed the two as they just stood there next to each other, close enough to make their shoulders brush one another. The woman's breath hitched in her throat at the contact, only now breaking her staring at the animal to look at their arms. Her eyes stared there before moving to look at his face, taking in his features like he did hers just moments earlier.

She saw the way his jaw clenched, his hair was messy like he had ran his fingers through it out of stress. Specks of dirt were scattered across his face, only a little, as well as his hands. It took everything she had not to take her hand and wipe away at the dirt until it was clean.

Aria also noticed his prominent dark circles, hers weren't any better she concluded to herself. They contrasted against the blue of his eyes, making them even prettier if it were possible. Her eyes drifted down to his lips, unknowingly.

They were a bit chapped, which made sense as they weren't in access of chapstick at that point. However she made a mental note to find some on her next run, for herself and the others in need.

The woman pulled her eyes back to his. Rick's face now turning to meet hers. She didn't look away at first as they both held eye contact. Her mouth went to move as she forced the words out of her throat, "You seem like you had a rough day."

Rick sighed as his eyes faltered at the thought. "I've had better."

She nodded, "Haven't we all?" Aria paused as she took a deep breath. "What happened today? I was going to go with you but you were already gone by the time I came back outside."