traded my life [TWD]

『110』

"What that?" Woojin asks, pointing to the camera.

"This is my little tool to help-"

"What that?" he cuts Deanna off, pointing to a painting on the wall.

"That is-"

"What that?" he repeats, pointing at the TV.

"Woojin-ah," I call.

"Who you?" he asks, now pointing at Deanna.

I lightly tap his hand. "Don't point at people, it's rude."

Woojin sits down on the floor by my chair and picks at some fake flowers that Deanna gave him.

"He's a rowdy one, huh?" the woman asks.

"Like mother, like son," I note.

"Can't say I relate. I have three sons.. none of them have turned out like me or their father."

At the mention of a father, I grimace. Stupid daddy issues. 

"Father?" Woojin repeats, looking up. "What that?"

"Appa," I translate. "Like Carl calls Rick Samchon."

He hums and accepts the answer, returning to the fake flowers.

"I'm Deanna Monroe," Deanna says.

"Yeah, I caught that before coming in here."

"And you are?"

My name kind of felt cursed. The side of my name that was on so many complaint forms and police records of delinquency.. Plus, my last name still had my birth father's.

"Hyejin," I state. "Hyejin Grimes."

"Ah, that's right. You're Rick's niece," she says.

My heart swells. Rick already had his interview- so he already claimed me as his family before I had the chance.

"Usually I start these out by asking what you did before the fall," Deanna says, moving the conversation along.

"Right before?"

"Sure."

"I was an EMT driver. I was about to go to med school, but.. then, the fall," I recall.

"Do you have a good basis of medical knowledge?"

"Enough to get by. What I didn't pick up on from my job, I studied. And what I didn't get there, a former member of our group taught me."

"At least I know what job you'll have," she says with a chuckle.

"Just cause that's what I was before, doesn't mean that's what I need to do now."

"I was a congressperson in Ohio. I lead this place. I think our past defines our future-"

"It doesn't," I cut her off sharply. "Sticking to stigmas and the status quo is bullshit. You're forcing this new world to look like the old one, but there's a reason the old world is gone."

There's a brief silence as she takes in my sudden change of tone. I mentally curse myself for getting caught up in the emotions. I was getting better with my temper.. not perfect, but a work in progress. And yet.. here was one of the moments of struggle.

"Do you know why you're here, Hyejin?" she finally asks.

I was one of the ones to talk Rick into coming here. I wanted to see this place. I wanted to figure it out.

But.. why had I done that? Was it truly because of the kids and the group's safety? Or.. did I want what this place had? To take it from them?

"I'm just working with what I was handed," I decide.

"As am I," Deanna says with a knowing smile.

--

"She's not horrible," I tell Daryl. "She just kinda makes you feel like a piece of shit under a microscope."

Daryl huffs. "I ain't going in."

"You have to," I remind. "One by one, Dixon."

He crosses his arms and sighs.

"Come on, you're doing great with your communication," I tease. "You don't even speak in just caveman grunts anymore! You're a learning boy!"

He knocks his fist playfully against my shoulder and I laugh, shoving him back.

"Hell, you're basically bilingual," I note. "You sure been translating my tantrums."

"When you're around something long enough, you pick it up. Plus, I can pretty much assume what 'fuck' means in every language based on how it's said."

"Ah, right you are, my dearest Deer-yl."

"Shut up."

"Nah," I deny.

"All right, China-"

"Bitch."

Daryl scoffs and hides a smile.

"You suck," I inform.

Daniel walks out of Deanna's office, Rosita going in after him. As he approaches, Woojin stands up from the pavement.

"Appa!" Woojin exclaims, pointing at Daniel.

My body goes frigid and I don't know what to say. Daniel accepts Woojin's hug around his legs and looks up at me.

"There's my word of the day," Daryl comments, sensing the tension.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

NOT MUCH HAPPENED IN THIS CHAPTER AND YET EVERYTHING HAPPENED

I'm officially a college graduate now so get ready for me to be all up in your notifs with new chapters and books bc I HAVE TIME