THE WEEK HADN'T PASSED with grace. Constant trips back to the infirmary for checkups, and constant anxiety about Ellie's state made up the majority of Jane Peletier's thinking space. Between painkillers, loose stitches, infection scares and general health issues, she hadn't had a second to consider the fresh air she was breathing.
Everything was new and old at the same time. She had finally gotten used to the fleeting life she'd ascertained, but here she stood...with a family. Her own family.
The people she'd dreamt about, night in and night out - were now cooking her meals, lending her clothes, smiling at her as she passed them on the street like it was such a normal thing. But they had all had each other. They didn't know what it was like, sleeping in rotted rain soaked sheds...killing walkers with bare, young hands because there was no other way.
Sure, they'd done things to live. There was nobody that hadn't. But the burden of what she had to do felt much heavier than theirs. How was she to know? People got on with things, they powered through. But even though she had never felt more relieved seeing those familiar faces, she had also never felt so scared.
Because the possibility of loss had just tripled three times over - if this life were to slip from her grasp once again, as easily done as if catching smoke with bare palms; she likely wouldn't survive it.
"Hey, girl," she cooed, perched cautiously on the end of Ellie's bed. Her leg was elevated, a thick cast around the ankle on obnoxious display. Ellie hated it - the lying around, the boredom. The pain, she could definitely take.
"What time is it?" She asks, her eyes still barely open. She looked rested, which was a great sign, and her sunken, hunger stricken face was starting to fill in. Still, Jane couldn't leave her side for long - she'd be there in the morning, and at lunch, and then dinner, then eventually, the morning again.
"I'm not sure. Nine, I think."
"Shit, I was hoping to sleep through the day. I hate this stupid fucking-"
Ellie stopped, examining Jane's face as she raised her eyebrows in a nagging way.
"Just rest. I know you hate it, but we had a pretty shit week, you know. It can't be worse than that." Jane reassured her, grabbing her bag to rummage through it for an unknown item. Ellie watches intently, quietly admiring her best friend. Her hair looked clean, and her soft curls had started to show through much more - bringing out a dark chestnut colour that Ellie hadn't noticed previously. She was wearing a brown jacket, with white fluff gathered around the collar. She looked like she'd always belonged here, like she was tough without being cold. Like you could tell something had changed, but no one was sure if it was good or bad. Maybe she's unsure herself, Ellie thought.
"Here." Jane hands over a small booklet to the girl, her arms subconsciously reaching out to take it. Her eyes widen in shock as she sees the cover of one of her favourite comic book series - volume 9. The one she'd been missing forever.
"How-how did...why-You've been sneaking out! Just like you did at oceanside!"
"Couldn't sleep. Found it last night. There's a town about a mile away, I'll take you when you're better."
"You could've died."
"But I didn't. Place was basically clear."
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"𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞„
Fanfiction"Remember the first time you kissed me? It was on the cheek, outside of Hershel's quarantine zone. I remember feeling conflicted, because, I couldn't enjoy it. You were about to step into danger, and could've died. That's the first time I felt it, a...
