VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴81

"I love you," Anna whispers in my ear.

I squeeze her tightly. "I love you, too."

We eventually separated from the hug, giving one another a gentle kiss that lasted a few seconds.

"Stay safe," she requests.

"This isn't forever," I remind. "I'll be right behind you before you know it."

"Better be," she warns.

I bite back a grin and give her another kiss. "I love you."

"I love you," she returns again.

"Take care of her," I remind Josh.

"Of course," he promises.

"Take care of her," Anna tells Jesus, pointing to me.

"Babysitting is my new strong suit," Jesus promises.

I scoff and nudge my arm into his.

Then, Josh and Anna get into the van with the twins and leave Hilltop.

I take a deep breath and rock on my feet a little.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was for her safety. The Saviors were dangerous. They'd go after the ones I love most. And there was no one I loved more than Anna.

This was the best solution. She was busy, so unable to figure out what was happening. She was away, so the Saviors wouldn't find her.

There's an emptiness that resides in my chest. I realize that we haven't been apart for over a year or so.

Anna always found me in my worst times. She was always there from the second we met and fell in love. She was.. always there.

Insecurity creeps up my spine. Could I do this without her?

"You good?" Jesus asks.

"Haven't been away from her since.." I pause. "Since we lost Glenn?"

Jesus pats my shoulder. "Distance makes the heart grow fonder."

"Yeah, you say that because you can't get a boyfriend and you're trying to make yourself feel better about yourself,"I tease, picking my backpack up.

"You heading somewhere?"

"Quick patrol around. Gonna scope out the area and see if we can start mowing down the lot for the expansion," I lie.

"Your mom told me to load up the food for the bridge," he reveals. "She's going through with the deal."

I run my thumb along the inside of the bag's strap. "Are you asking me for help loading tomatoes?"

"No.. I thought you should know because she also is letting Earl out. I thought you should know."

I make a note to apologize to Cyndie and the others for being late.

Then, I turn on my heel and walk up to the main house.

--

"I saw Anna and Josh leave," mom notes. "I told them 'bye' earlier. I thought you'd want some privacy."

"Why did you let Earl out?" I ask.

She sets down the papers she was working on. "Ellie.."

"He almost killed you. Hershel, too. He injured Enid. Why is he loose?"

"Honey," she calls. "He was drunk."

"And that makes it better?"

"No. But.. I thought about it a lot over the past month. I've talked to Earl. I talked to you, Jesus, Enid, Anna.. everyone."

"So, help me figure it out," I urge.

"You know your grandpa drank, right?"

My shoulders tense and my eyes dart around the room awkwardly.

"You didn't," she says with a smile. "He didn't want you to."

"He didn't try to kill someone while he was drunk," I remind.

"No. But, he made bad decisions, I'm sure. He stopped drinking on the day I was born."

I cross my arms. The thought was.. strange.

"And after the barn.. do you remember when Glenn and Rick had to go find him?"

Slowly, I nod. The memory was distant, faint. Beth was in shock. My sadness and confusion was overly blinding after the barn reveal.

I wasn't even aware of Otis and such putting our friends and family in the barn. The group knew before I did. I found out while it was happening.

"He went to a bar. They had to bring him back home, but he was ready to give up."

"It was a hard time," I recall. "I asked dad hundreds of questions, but he didn't know what to say after the third."

"Even though he made a mistake, we all gave him a second chance."

"It's not the same," I deny.

"Every situation is different. But, people deserve second chances. And I know you understand just as much as I do when I say that just because Daddy drank, it didn't make him a bad person. Did it?"

I shake my head. "He was the best. Far from bad."

"And even he needed a second chance. Look at how many great things he did after he was given another chance."

There wasn't anyone in this world, past or present, that I looked up to more than my grandfather. And people in the future would all be benefitting from the decisions and choices that he made. He made a better future possible because of his guiding hand.

I have the urge to tell mom about Oceanside and I working together to take out the Saviors.

"Earl just needed another chance. Now, he can prove himself and better himself. If he chooses to make another bad decision, it will be dealt with accordingly."

Mom stands up and walks around her desk. Hershel makes some babbling noises from his playpen.

"You're the one that told me that good people can make bad decisions," mom reminds.

The night Gregory was hung.. I nod at the memory.

"And I think Earl is a good man that made a bad decision under a bad influence in a bad time of grief. If he takes this new chance and willingly chooses to make those bad decisions again.. then, it will be settled."

The initial fear and worry that I had when I came in here slowly goes away.

"I want our people to have choices. It's all I've wanted for you and Hershel, you know that. And Earl.. he is allowed to make choices, too."

Jesus probably said those things because he knew I would come here. He knew that mom would be able to get through to me and that was safer than me seeing Earl out and about without a warning.

And it worked.

Mom and I had a rough start. But, there was no one on this earth I trusted more than her. Her judgment and leadership was something to behold.

I could only wish to be a fraction of the leader she is. I could only train in her image.