traded my life [TWD]

『78』

"I guess we should talk," Rick says the next day.

I look at the bus of people getting out. Mostly elders and children.

"Hershel told me what you said," he says. "And while I agree that it isn't your fault.. I get it."

I inhale the winter air and nod.

"The Governor killed his army. There was one survivor left that told us.. When we got to Woodbury, we found the rest. Governor never went back for the town," Rick explains.

"He got mad that they weren't bloodthirsty like him so he killed them," I figure. "Sounds like the psychopath I know."

"We found Merle," he adds. "Allen and Martinez scooped him up earlier. The Governor shot him. He was turned in that torture room. The one you and Maggie were almost executed in."

I shake my head and look at the ground. I make a note to talk to Daryl later.

"The rest of the people.. they were elderly. Kids. Ones that couldn't fight. Governor made every other able-bodied person sign up for the war. These were just.. left behind. Waiting to die back at Woodbury."

"Are they with us now?" I ask. "I mean.. with us-with us."

"They are.. if the leader says so."

"I'm not ready to be leader," I confess.

"Well.. neither am I," Rick admits right back.

"So, where do we go from here?"

"I think you already know," he says.

"How's that?"

"Hershel told me.. You said you were the council, not a leader.. Maybe since we got this many people now.. maybe we don't need just one leader. Maybe you were right. We need a council."

I tap my finger on my gun. "A council?"

"Like how you girls were. A council that is in charge of different things, but all can vote together. Not just one shoulder to carry the burden. Not just one opinion, either."

I smile a little. "I like the sound of that."

Rick pats my head, then Woojin's who was strapped to my back. "Yeah. Me, too."

"And just for the record.. I was only leader for like three days. You've held this group down for almost a year," I remind. "I have a better picture now of what you went through to keep us safe. I'm sorry it was so hard.. but, thank you for trying even harder."

Rick smiles, a true, genuine one that I hadn't seen in a long time. He pulls me closer and kisses my forehead. "Couldn't have done it without you. The kids.. y'all keep me going. Make me want to fight harder."

I wrap my arm around his waist in the side hug, just enjoying the simple moment. We watch the rest of the ex-Woodbury people get out of the bus, integrating with ours and becoming our own.

"She's not there," Rick whispers.

"Huh?" I wonder, looking up at him.

He nods his head at the catwalk over the bus. "She's usually there.. she's not. She's gone."

I look at the catwalk for a few seconds, wondering if I could see Lori if I looked hard enough. I couldn't have imagined that's what he was truly dealing with. Chasing her ghost. A mirage.

"Maybe because she knows you're doing the right thing," I offer.

Rick nods a few times, then squeezes my shoulder. I rest my head on his chest.

"She knows we're all together now.. and we're going to make this world better," he adds. "This is just the beginning."

The words remind me of Jacqui again and I smile. "The end was only the beginning."

Rick rests his chin on the top of my head and I take a moment to breathe. For once, we didn't have the burden of responsibility on our shoulders. The council.. we'd figure it out. And things would be better. Safer. Happier.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

they are in fact everything to me your honor

hyejin and rick deserve a break thank god for the council\