Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 143.

You're not broken. You're human.

Iris slows her bike and watches as the gate slowly slide open, she rides in and parks the bike in front of her house, she watches the front door open, Juniper runs down the porch steps and throws her arms around Iris's neck, hugging her tight, Iris laughs at her sister as she hugs her back. "I've missed you" Juniper mumbles, "i was only gone a week" Iris says, she looks up, still being held by her sister, she see's Rick walking down the porch steps with Judith in his arms and Michonne following.

"Okay, i need to breathe" Iris jokes, pulling away from her sister's embrace, "hey" Iris smiles, walking to Rick as he hands Judith to Michonne, "hey" he says, Iris wraps her arms around him, holding onto him tight as he hugs her back.

As Iris pulls away from Rick, Michonne lowers Judith to stand on the floor, "it's good to see you" she says to Iris hugging her, "you too" Iris smiles, pulling away from the woman, she turns to Judith and picks her up, "hey little deputy" she says to the girl in her arms, "i have someone to speak to quickly" Iris says, walking away from the three of them, "have you grown?" Iris questions the young girl on her hip.

"she's missed you" Rick says, following behind Iris, she turns and looks at the man, "i've missed her too" Iris says as they make their way into the graveyard, "hey kid" Iris says, kissing her palm before leaning down and laying her hand on Carl's grave, she smiles as Judith copies her, tapping her hand against the grave, "i've missed you as well" Iris says, looking up at Rick.

Rick smiles down at the woman, "I've missed you too. It's been weird with you gone" Rick admits, "i was only gone a week" Iris says, sitting on the floor and sitting Judith in front of her, "we didn't know if you were gonna come back" Rick explains, "i made a promise to tell you if i was ever gonna leave" Iris says, thinking back to the farm, Rick sits down on the floor behind Judith, looking up at Iris.

"How are you?" Rick asks, Iris looks up to him, a small smile across her lips, "i'm doing alot better" Iris answers, "you look good" Rick smiles, "thanks. I feel good... I'm trying for everyone. For you, Judith, for Carl. i think i just needed a break from this place to realise everything i have" Iris explains, "I'm glad you're doing better" Rick says.

"I just hope I'm doing what he wants me to do" Iris says, looking to Carl's grave next to her, "you are. He's probably looking over you with a big smile on his face" Rick says, "thanks" Iris says, looking back at Rick, tears in her eyes with a smile on her face. Iris kisses her hand before laying it on Bear's grave, "Michonne and Juniper are making dinner" Rick says, "thank god" Iris says, standing up, picking Judith up before they walk back to the house together.

.........

Iris sits on the porch as the sun slowly rises, she slowly inhales the smoke, she looks around and watches as people slowly start to leave their houses and start working, the door behind her opens and she looks back to see Juniper leaving, "hey, what are you doing today?" Juniper questions, sitting down next to Iris "I'm not sure. I'm only here for two days" Iris says.

"Well i'm going out to forage, do you want to come with?" Juniper asks, "yeah" Iris says, standing up she throws the finished cigarette on the floor before standing on it, "you ready?" Iris asks, looking down at her sister, "give me a minute" the blonde says, Iris watches as her sister walks down to the basement, Iris thinks about leaving and giving some privacy, but her legs won't move.

"Hey sweetheart" Iris hears Negan's voice come through the cell window, "hey, i'm going out today but i'll come see you later" Juniper says, Iris looks up when she see Rick walk out of his house, Iris walks over and meets him at the bottom of the porch steps, "don't worry, i've been listening to their visits" Rick explains, quiet enough to they can't be heard, "i don't want her seeing him anymore" Iris mumbles.

"What are you gonna tell her?" Rick asks "I don't know. But it needs to be done" Iris says, watching Juniper exit the basement, "i'll see you later" Iris says to Rick before walking to Juniper, Iris goes into the house and grabs her bow and a quiver full of arrows, Juniper doing the same.

.........

"Is something bothering you?" Juniper questions, throwing some mushrooms in the bucket, "it's just nice being with you after all this time" Iris mumbles, "i always dreamed of hanging out with my sister and now i get to do it" Juniper smiles, Iris looks around, making sure it's clear of walkers. "There's something else" Juniper says, Iris lets out a sigh, looking up at the trees.

"I was thinking you would come to Hilltop with me for a few days" Iris says, looking at her sister, Juniper thinks for a minute, "okay" she says, "you're gonna come with me?" Iris asks, "yeah" Juniper smiles, Iris smiles and goes back to picking mushrooms.

"I know you're worried about me seeing Negan" Juniper blurts out, "i- i don't want to be" Iris mumbles, "i know, and i love you Iris. so i'll start visiting him less" Juniper says, Iris looks at her sister, "i'm sorry" Iris mumbles, "it's okay, i understand" Juniper says.

..........

Iris slowly walks into the basement, locking the door behind her, she leans against the wall, crossing her arms as she watches Negan staring up at the ceiling, "i got some funny news to tell you" Iris says, watching as the man ignores her, "i was with Juniper today" Iris adds getting Negans attention, "she told me she's gonna start visiting you less" Iris says, a smile creeping onto her lips, Negan stands and lunges at the cell door, "what have you done!" he shouts, Iris's smile drops, she steps up to the man.

"I didn't do anything. That's what's so funny, she chose this" Iris explains, "no. no you've done something!" Negan shouts, his heart breaking "maybe she's finally seeing who you really are" Iris snaps "i want to see her! I need to speak to her!" Negan demands, "you can't right now, she's packing her bag" Iris says, turning and walking out of the basement, Negan sits back on his bed, laying his head in his hands.

Iris shuts the door behind her, leaning her back against it as she lets out a sigh, she walks up the steps and walks to the church, sitting down in the new seats, "hello" Gabriel says, sitting next to her, "are you ready to talk?" he asks, Iris keeps her eyes on the wall in front of her "I'm keeping secrets from everyone i love" Iris mumbles, "i can help you keep them" Gabriel reassures.

Iris lets out a sigh before speaking "i'm not doing as good as i've been telling everyone" Iris mumbles, looking down at her hands and picking at the skin around her nails "everytime i feel better the guilt takes over" Iris explains, watching her fingers bleed "i think i'm broken" Iris adds "your not broken. Your human" Gabriel says, Iris looks at the man, "thanks" she says, standing and walking out of the church.

Iris and Juniper say goodbye to everyone before climbing onto Iris's bike, Juniper wraps her arms around her sister, waving to everyone as the drive out of Alexandria's gates, riding down the roads to Hilltop.