traded my life [TWD]

『74』

"Wah, look at this badass," I awe.

Woojin's tiny fingers hold onto the bullet. I take it from him and put it in the gun I was loading.

"Can you do another?" I ask, pointing to the cardboard box.

He slaps at the box and then grabs a bullet.

"That's right," I praise, kissing the back of his head.

"Most people sing nursery rhymes," Carl says as he walks into my cell.

"Gotta start 'em young," I tease. "How was the run? You good? Your dad?"

"We're good. Michonne.. I think she's one of us," he says, leaning against the wall.

"Oh, yeah?"

"She really helped me out today."

"Find a lot of good stuff?"

"We ran into a man who knew Dad at the start. Morgan."

"Mm.." I hum, faintly remembering Rick's story of the man and son that saved him after the hospital.

"He had a lot of weapons. More than triple what we already had."

"Damn," I sigh. "Thanks, man. That's gonna come in handy."

"We got some more stuff, too."

I eye him carefully, wondering what that tone of voice means.

"I thought.. maybe Woojin and Judith should be more comfortable. So, I went to that place Mom's friend, Sara, used to run."

Ah. Sara. From what I remember of her, she was another Lori. They gossiped over how much they hated their marriages when waiting for their kids to exit the school.

"Found a crib. Some more formula. Once this thing with Woodbury is over, we can go back and get some more stuff. Swings, toys, books.. there's a lot there."

"That's good," I say, moving the gun and bullets to the side, making sure Woojin hadn't stuffed one down his throat.

"Then, we went to the cafe," he continues.

"Roddy's?" I wonder.

"Mhm," he hums and nods.

"Christmas breakfast," I remember, causing Carl to laugh. "You'd think those old men would figure something else out.. but, no. Always Roddy's."

"Shane always ordered eight waffles and a pound of bacon," Carl recalls.

"And washed it down with some apple cider," I add with a chuckle.

It was weird to talk about the days before the world fell. I was surprised Carl had even remembered all those trips to Roddy's cafe.

Carl rummages through his bag for a moment. 

"I found these.." Carl says, holding out two frames.

The photo on top was still dusty, but I smile. I wipe the dust off and take in the smiling faces of Rick, Lori, and a younger Carl.

"I thought Judith should know what her mom looked like," he explains. "And I couldn't leave the other behind."

I tuck the frame behind the other and pause.

My throat felt tight. My chest heavy.

The second photo was of a teenage me with Shane on one side and my mother on the other. She was visiting from Korea for Christmas.. it was the last photo we took together. 

We looked uncomfortable to even be in a picture, to begin with. We were all camera-shy. Mom had her head down, but I could see her smile as she laughed. Shane had a lock of my hair pulled to his face like a mustache. And I had a glum look on my face like someone had me at gunpoint to take the photo. From what I remember, it was Lori who took the photo. My mom took the photo of the Grimes family on the same day.